Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St. Alban, QC (22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626), was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, essayist, and author. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. After his death, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific method during the scientific revolution.

“Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.”  Francis Bacon

“Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.”  Francis Bacon

“If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.”  Francis Bacon

“If we are to achieve things never before accomplished we must employ methods never before attempted”  Francis Bacon

“There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.” Francis Bacon

“Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read.” Francis Bacon

“Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted …but to weigh and consider” Francis Bacon

“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

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”  Francis Bacon