Francis Bacon

Of great wealth there is no real use, except in its distribution, the rest is just conceit.

Without friends the world is but a wilderness. There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friends, but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his grieves to his friend, but he grieveth the less.

It is a strange desire, to seek power and lose liberty, or to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self. The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains, and it is sometimes base; and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing.

Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man.

To choose time is to save time.

Nay, number itself in armies importeth not much, where the people is of weak courage; for, as Virgil saith, It never troubles the wolf how many the sheep be.

The disgrace of others often keeps tender minds from vice.

All diseases run into one, old age.

I wish for you the wisdom to realize that forgiveness has nothing to do with an apology.

When our relatives are at home, we have to think of all their good points or it would be impossible to endure them. But when they are away, we console ourselves for their absence by dwelling on their vices.

As there is a use in medicine for poisons, so the world cannot move without rogues.

A monarch, when good, is entitled to the consideration which we accord to a pirate who keeps Sunday School between crimes; when bad, he is entitled to none at all.

There are those that are void of all mercy, but when it comes the time that they are on their knees, they plead for it. Those that were born with the art of deception, never sincere with their words or actions. But mercy is not theirs to take, only for you to give. Never compromise your standards, your beliefs and become like the ones who you are fighting against, but stay resolute to who you are.

It’s so hard to know what to do when one wishes earnestly to do right.

In this war, a danger there is, of losing who we are.

The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.

Nature has always had more force than education.

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

To delay justice, is injustice.

The secret in education lies in respecting the student.

Whatever limits us we call fate.