Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again.
¶ (Attributed)
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Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, author, politician [1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans]
There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that lost by not trying.
¶ (Attributed)
When the human mind has once despaired of finding truth, its interest in all things grows fainter, and the result is that men turn aside to pleasant disputations and discourses and roam as it were from object to object, a wandering kind of inquiry that leads to nothing.
¶ (Attributed)
By taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.
¶ (Attributed)
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
¶ (Attributed)
The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.
¶ (Attributed)
The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.
¶ (Attributed)
Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.
¶ Apothegms, No. 97
(quoting Alonso of Aragon)
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin in doubts, he shall end in certainties.
¶ De Augmentis Scientiarum, bk. 1, ch. 5, sect. 8 (1605)
But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
¶ De Augmentis Scientiarum, bk. 2, ch. 20, sect. 8 (1605)
They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.
¶ De Augmentis Scientiarum, bk. 2, ch. 7, sect. 5 (1605)
If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.
¶ Essays, "'Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature" (1625)
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
¶ Essays, "Of Ceremonies and Respects" (1625)
Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.
¶ Essays, "Of Cunning" (1625)
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils, for time is the greatest innovator.
¶ Essays, "Of Innovation" (1625)
A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.
¶ Essays, "Of Revenge" (1625)
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.
¶ Essays, "Of Studies" (1625)
Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.
¶ Essays, No. 34, "Of Riches" (also attrib. B. Franklin) (1627)
Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. In everything man has accomplished, we have only manipulated nature into doing what it is.
[Natura enim non imperatur, nisi parendo.]
¶ Novum Organum, Book 1, Aphorism 129 (1620)
Quod enim mavult homo verum esse, id potius credit.
[Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.]
¶ Novum Organum, Book 1, Aphorism 49 (1620)
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WIST is my collection of quotations I find meaningful, moving, amusing (intended or not), well-phrased, and/or to which I just say I "Wish I'd Said That." But just because I quote it here doesn't mean I actually agree with it. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to
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