Francis Bacon

Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.

Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

Lies are sufficient to breed opinion, and opinion brings on substance.

We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.

Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread.

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Live your life, do your work, then take your hat.

Our spontaneous action is always the best. You cannot, with your best deliberation and heed, come so close to any question as your spontaneous glance shall bring you.

In heaven an angel is no one in particular.

I am easily satisfied with the very best.

He’s a man of great common sense and good taste – meaning thereby a man without originality or moral courage.

But men must know, that in this theatre of man’s life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.

Reading Proust isn’t just reading a book, it’s an experience and you can’t reject an experience.

There is something in the human spirit that will survive and prevail, there is a tiny and brilliant light burning in the heart of man that will not go out no matter how dark the world becomes.

I was exceedingly delighted with the waltz, and also with the polka. These differ in name, but there the difference ceases

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrate to some stroke of the imagination.

Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos; trees, clouds, everything.