It is a good point of cunning for a man to shape the answer he would have in his own words and propositions, for it makes the other party stick the less. Francis Bacon More Quotes by Francis Bacon More Quotes From Francis Bacon If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. Francis Bacon math littles men It's always hopeless to talk about painting - one never does anything but talk around it. Francis Bacon painting communication doe My praise shall be dedicated to the mind itself. The mind is the man, and the knowledge is the mind. A man is but what he knoweth. The mind is but an accident to knowledge, for knowledge is the double of that which is. Francis Bacon mind men knowledge If you want to convey fact, this can only ever be done through a form of distortion. You must distort to transform what is called appearance into image. Francis Bacon deception done want Very few people have a natural feeling for painting, and so, of course, they naturally think that painting is an expression of the artist's mood. But it rarely is. Very often he may be in greatest despair and be painting his happiest paintings. Francis Bacon artist expression thinking A picture should be a re-creation of an event rather than an illustration of an object; but there is no tension in the picture unless there is a struggle with the object. Francis Bacon illustration events struggle God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. Francis Bacon atheism miracle atheist In things that are tender and unpleasing, it is good to break the ice by some one whose words are of less weight, and to reserve the more weighty voice to come in as by chance. Francis Bacon voice chance weight Before I start painting I have a slightly ambiguous feeling: happiness is a special excitement because unhappiness is always possible a moment later. Francis Bacon emotion special feelings Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread. Francis Bacon money use littles By this means we presume we have established for ever, a true and legitimate marriage between the Empirical and Rational faculty; whose fastidious and unfortunate divorce and separation hath troubled and disordered the whole race and generation of mankind. Francis Bacon divorce mean knowledge I think I tend to destroy the better paintings, or those that have been better to a certain extent. I try and take them further, and they lose all their qualities, and they lose everything. I think I would say that I destroy all the better paintings. Francis Bacon quality trying thinking Young people are fitter to invent than to judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and more fit for new projects than for settled business. Francis Bacon business time people One of the fathers saith . . . that old men go to death, and death comes to young men. Francis Bacon men father death The mystery lies in the irrationality by which you make appearance - if it is not irrational, you make illustration. Francis Bacon illustration mystery lying Hurl your calumnies boldly; something is sure to stick. Francis Bacon calumny sticks I want to make portraits and images. I don't know how. Out of despair, I just use paint anyway. Suddenly the things you make coagulate and take on just the shape you intend. Totally accurate marks, which are outside representational marks. Francis Bacon portraits despair knowledge The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes base, and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall, or at least an eclipse. Francis Bacon rising pain men More dangers have deceived men than forced them. Francis Bacon betrayal trust adversity My painting is not violent, it's life that is violent. Even within the most beautiful landscape, in the trees, under the leaves, the insects are eating each other; violence is a part of life. We are born with a scream; we come into life with a scream and maybe love is a mosquito net between the fear of living and the fear of death. Francis Bacon tree love-is beautiful
