Francis Bacon

A sudden bold and unexpected question does many times surprise a man and lay him open.

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.

They that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.

Cure the disease and kill the patient.

The fortune which nobody sees makes a person happy and unenvied.

A graceful and pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of recommendation.

By his father he is English, by his mother he is Americanto my mind the blend which makes the perfect man.

We live by our imagination, our admirations, and our sentiments.

Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you who you’ll turn out to be.

A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.

The torments of martyrdom are probably most keenly felt by the bystanders.

I am living in a nightmare, from which from time to time I wake in sleep.

I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.

A continual feast of commendation is only to be obtained by merit or by wealth: many are therefore obliged to content themselves with single morsels, and recompense the infrequency of their enjoyment by excess and riot, whenever fortune sets the banquet before them.

The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs, which are brief and pithy. Collect and learn them; they are notable measures of directions for human life; you have much in little; they save time in speaking; and upon occasion may be the fullest and safest answer.

Don’t think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.

The most difficult We do not deal in facts when we are contemplating ourselves.

I could not find the world if I searched ten years. I’ve forgotten the road by which I came.

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinions; it is easy in solitude to live after your own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.

The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.