Virtue is like precious odours,-most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed. 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 mathlittlesmen It's always hopeless to talk about painting - one never does anything but talk around it. Francis Bacon paintingcommunicationdoe 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 mindmenknowledge 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 deceptiondonewant 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 artistexpressionthinking 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 illustrationeventsstruggle God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. Francis Bacon atheismmiracleatheist 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 voicechanceweight 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 emotionspecialfeelings Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread. Francis Bacon moneyuselittles 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 divorcemeanknowledge 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 qualitytryingthinking 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 businesstimepeople One of the fathers saith . . . that old men go to death, and death comes to young men. Francis Bacon menfatherdeath The mystery lies in the irrationality by which you make appearance - if it is not irrational, you make illustration. Francis Bacon illustrationmysterylying Hurl your calumnies boldly; something is sure to stick. Francis Bacon calumnysticks 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 portraitsdespairknowledge 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 risingpainmen More dangers have deceived men than forced them. Francis Bacon betrayaltrustadversity 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 treelove-isbeautiful
