20 Most Famous Quotations of Francis Bacon


Here are 20 famous quotations by Francis Bacon, their sources, and their meanings:




"Knowledge is power." - Meditationes Sacrae (1597) This quote means that acquiring knowledge empowers a person to make better-informed decisions and to have an advantage in various fields of life.


"He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune." - Essays (1625) This quote means that when a person has a family, they are more vulnerable to the twists and turns of life, and must therefore be more cautious in their actions.


"Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper." - Apophthegms (1624) This quote means that while hope can be a great motivator in the morning, relying solely on hope is not enough to achieve success in the long run.


"Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out." - Essays (1625) This quote means that while revenge might seem satisfying, it is not the proper course of action and should be discouraged by law.


"Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man." - Essays (1597) This quote means that reading helps one develop a broad understanding, discussion helps one to think on their feet, and writing helps one to articulate ideas precisely.


"Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom." - Advancement of Learning (1605) This quote means that in order to gain wisdom, one must sometimes remain silent and attentive, and allow thoughts to fully develop.


"A man that studieth revenge, keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." - Essays (1625) This quote means that seeking revenge only prolongs the pain and suffering caused by the initial wound.


"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion." - Essays (1625) This quote means that true beauty is not found in perfect symmetry, but in the unique and unusual.


"Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other." - Essays (1625) This quote means that people's fear of death is often irrational, and can be intensified by superstitions and stories.


"Money is like muck, not good except it be spread." - Essays (1625) This quote means that money is only valuable when it is put to good use and invested in something productive.


"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." - Essays (1597) This quote means that not all books are created equal, and some require deeper reading and reflection than others.


"The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss." - De Augmentis Scientiarum (1623) This quote means that people tend to notice coincidences and connections, but ignore evidence that contradicts their beliefs.


"Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed." - Novum Organum (1620) This quote means that in order to understand and control nature, we must first observe and learn from it.


"The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery." - Interviews with Francis Bacon (1975) This quote means that artists should strive to create work that provokes thought and engages viewers on a deeper level.


"It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everybody else, and still unknown to himself." - Essays (1597) This quote means that it is a tragedy for a person to be famous and well-regarded by others, but to not truly know or understand themselves.


"I hold every man a debtor to his profession." - The Advancement of Learning (1605) This quote means that every person has a duty to contribute to and improve their chosen profession.


"Fortune makes a fool of him whom she finds her enemy." - Essays (1625) This quote means that those who fight against luck or fortune are likely to end up in a worse situation than those who accept and work with it.


"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties." - The Advancement of Learning (1605) This quote means that if someone starts with preconceived notions or absolute beliefs, they are more likely to question and doubt them. However, if they approach a topic with an open mind and skepticism, they are more likely to arrive at a firm understanding.


"Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion." - Novum Organum (1620) This quote means that it is easier to discern truth from mistakes than from disorganization or chaos.


"The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it." - Novum Organum (1620)
This quote means that the human mind is prone to bias and distortion, and it can be difficult to perceive things objectively.

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