Francis Bacon

Croesus said to Cambyses; That peace was better than war; because in peace the sons did bury their fathers, but in wars the fathers did bury their sons.

I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death.

None of the affections have been noted to fascinate and bewitch but envy.

Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.

A good conscience is a continual feast.

It is impossible to love and to be wise.

This ain’t fun. But you watch me, I’ll get it done.

The Chinese said of themselves several thousand years ago: China is a sea that salts all the waters that flow into it. Theres another Chinese saying about their country which is much more modernit dates only from the fourth century. This is the saying: The tail of China is large and will not be wagged. I like that one. The British democracy approves the principles of movable party heads and unwaggable national tails. It is due to the working of these important forces that I have the honour to be addressing you at this moment.

We don’t want people to have expectations of us, but then we have expectations of everybody else.

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.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

It’s all that the young can do for the old, to shock them and keep them up to date.

Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.

Self-trust is the essence of heroism.

The more I see the less I know for sure.

In the word of no master am I bound to believe.

Have a care, therefore, where there is more sail than ballast.

Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled.

Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you’re wasting your life.

Conscientious people are apt to see their duty in that which is the most painful course.

It’s the ones that stayed after the Exodus, that I knew were real and could handle the truth; that would stay with me on my journey, for better or worse.