Francis Bacon

The serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

No man’s fortune can be an end worthy of his being.

Mysteries are due to secrecy.

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

Lies are sufficient to breed opinion, and opinion brings on substance.

Nakedness is uncomely, as well in mind as body, and it addeth no small reverence to men’s manners and actions if they be not altogether open. Therefore set it down: That a habit of secrecy is both politic and moral.

The pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.

If man is to be liberated to enjoy more leisure, he must also be prepared to enjoy this leisure fully and creatively.

The finest language is mostly made up of simple unimposing words.

This comes of James teaching me to think for myself, and never to hold back out of fear of what other people may think of me. It works beautifully as long as I think the same things as he does.

A man’s library is a sort of harem.

Ladies and gentleman are permitted to have friends in the kennel, but not in the kitchen.

Our tastes greatly alter. The lad does not care for the child’s rattle, and the old man does not care for the young man’s whore.

The longer we live the more we think and the higher the value we put on friendship and tenderness towards parents and friends.

I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.

Wealth is in applications of mind to nature; and the art of getting rich consists not in industry, much less in saving, but in a better order, in timeliness, in being at the right spot.

My method is to take the utmost trouble to find the right thing to say, and then to say it with the utmost levity.

The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.

The disgrace of others often keeps tender minds from vice.

He does not care for flowers. Calls them rubbish, and cannot tell one from another, and thinks it is superior to feel like that.

Whatever advice you give, be short.