Francis Bacon

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

The mould of a man’s fortune is in his own hands.

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.

They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into men’s heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings.

Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.

There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart’s desire. The other is to gain it.

Have wholesome, but not costly Food, and be rather cleanly than dainty in ordering it.

Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody reads.

When people do not respect us we are sharply offended; yet deep down in his private heart no man much respects himself.

How many are the things I can do without!

Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

We rail at trade, but the historian of the world will see that it was the principle of liberty; that it settled America, and destroyed feudalism, and made peace and keeps peace; that it will abolish slavery.

The liar’s punishment is, not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.

A man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk.

It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.

I could never be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.

You can tell a lot about a person by listening to the way they talk about someone they once loved.

We are always paid for our suspicion by finding what we suspect.

There are goods so opposed that we cannot seize both, but, by too much prudence, may pass between them at too great a distance to reach either.