Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon (1561-1626), also known as Lord Verulam, or Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans, was an English scientist, statesman, and philosopher. He was the father of the inductive method of scientific inquiry.

Francis Bacon was son of Sir Nicholas Baccon; born in the Strand, London; educated at Cambridge; called to the bar when 21, after study at Gray's Inn; and represented successively Taunton, Liverpool, and Ipswich in Parliament.

He was a favourite with the queen. He attached himself to Essex, but witnessed against him at his trial, which served him little. However, he became at last in succession Attorney-General, Privy Councillor, Lord Keeper, and Lord Chancellor.

Francis Bacon was convicted of venality as a judge, deposed, fined and imprisoned, but pardoned and released. He spent his retirement in his favourite studies. His great works were his "Advancement of Learning" (1605), "Novum Organum" (1620), and "De Augmentis Scientiarum" (1623), but is seen to best advantage by the generality in his "Essays," which are full of practical wisdom and keen observation of life. Indeed, these show such shrewdness of wit as to embolden some to maintain that the plays named of Shakespeare were written by him.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid.

- Of Ceremonies and Respects

• God almighty first planted a garden.

- Of Gardens

• If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will come to the hill.

- Of Boldness

• Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

- Apophthegms

• Knowledge itself is power.

- Of Heresies

• It is impossible to love and be wise.

- Of Love

• Money is like muck, not good except it be spared.

- Of Seditions and Troubles

• Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

- Novum Organum

• Princes are like to heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil time, and which have much veneration but no rest.

- Of Empire

• He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.

- Of Innovations

• The remedy is worse than the disease.

- Of Seditions and Troubles

• In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.

- Of Revenge

• A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

- Of Revenge

• He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises.

- Of Marriage

• Young men are fitter to invent than to judge, fitter for execution than for counsel, fitter for new projects than settled business.

- Of Youth and Age

Sir John Harington