But the greatest error of all the rest is the mistaking or misplacing of the last or farthest end of knowledge: for men have entered into a desire of learning and knowledge, sometimes upon a natural curiosity and inquisitive appetite; sometimes to entertain their minds with variety and delight; sometimes for ornament and reputation; and sometimes to enable them to victory of wit and contradiction; and most times for lucre and profession; and seldom sincerely to give a true account of their gift of reason, to the benefit and use of men.

Francis Bacon

Categorized in : Knowledge Science Men

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake.

Francis Bacon

positive inspirational life

Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.

Francis Bacon

wisdom wise clever

It's not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.

Francis Bacon

motivational integrity inspirational

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.

Francis Bacon

wisdom success inspirational

It's not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.

Francis Bacon

strong integrity character

The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other.

Francis Bacon

roots men memories

A little science estranges a man from God;

Francis Bacon

littles men

Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.

Francis Bacon

true-friend learning believe

If we are to achieve things never before accomplished we must employ methods never before attempted

Francis Bacon

change motivational science

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.

Francis Bacon

objectivity mirrors humility

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.

Francis Bacon

humility wisdom happiness

Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.

Francis Bacon

philosophical change life

Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Francis Bacon

old-friends wine retirement

The joys of parents are secret, and so are their grieves and fears.

Francis Bacon

parenting fear grieving

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

Francis Bacon

education teacher life

You cannot teach a child to take care of himself unless you will let him try to take care of himself. He will make mistakes and out of these mistakes will come his wisdom.

Francis Bacon

mistake inspirational children

People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingrained opinions, but generally act according to custom.

Francis Bacon

learning inspirational thinking

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.

Francis Bacon

motivational positive inspirational

By far the best proof is experience.

Francis Bacon

experience belief science

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

Francis Bacon

laughter humor funny