Francis Bacon – On High Position People in high positions are triple servants: servants of rulers or the state, servants of fame, and servants of business. Therefore, they have no personal freedom, no freedom of action, and no freedom of time. It is a strange desire to seek power and lose freedom: or to seek … Read more
Francis Bacon: On Praise: Gratitude is a reflection of virtue. However, it depends on the mirror or person who reflects it. If it comes from a simple-minded world, it is usually untrue and worthless, and it is more likely to follow vain individuals rather than virtuous ones. The simple-minded world fails to recognize many excellent … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Boldness Although this is a trivial school example, it is still worth considering the words of a wise man: when Demosthenes was asked what is most important in a speaker, he replied: “Speaking.” And after that? “Speaking again,” he answered. This is how he spoke, even though he knew it best, … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Conversation Some people in conversation are more interested in impressing others with their wit, by being able to talk about everything, rather than with their reasoning – the ability to discern what is true; as if it is praiseworthy to know how to talk about something, rather than to reason correctly. … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Followers and Friends One should avoid gathering followers, as a man who extends his tail will shorten his wings. I do not only mean those who burden the wallet, but also those who annoy and flutter around like moths. Ordinary followers should not expect anything more than approval, recommendation, and protection … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Procrastination Happiness is like a marketplace, and often, if you can just wait a little, the price will drop. Sometimes, however, it is like a Sibylline offer: at first, everything is offered, but little by little, there is less and less, and the price always remains the same. Because opportunity (as … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Newspapers Just as the offspring of living beings are poorly formed in the beginning, so are all newspapers, which are the product of their time. And yet, just as those who first bring glory to their family are usually more admirable than the majority of their descendants, so the first predecessor … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Human Nature Human nature is often concealed; sometimes mastered, rarely suppressed. Force only makes nature more vehement; instruction and conversation make it less intrusive; only habit changes and subdues nature. Let he who wishes to conquer his own nature not set himself too great or too small tasks; for the former … Read more
Francis Bacon – On Beauty Virtue is like a precious gemstone, most valuable in its simplicity, without adornments; indeed, virtue best suits a person of plain appearance, though not necessarily refined features, who possesses a dignified bearing rather than a beautiful exterior. It is not often observed that very beautiful individuals are endowed with great … Read more
Francis Bacon – On the Preservation of Health There is wisdom in this beyond the rules of medicine: one’s own observation of what benefits us and what harms us is the best remedy for preserving health. However, a more reliable decision is: This does not suit me best, so I will leave it, rather than: … Read more
