Page 168

Francis Bacon. (1561–1626) (continued)

1965

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.

Of Studies.

1966

Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.

Of Studies.

1967

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

Of Studies.

1968

The greatest vicissitude of things amongst men is the vicissitude of sects and religions. 1

Of Vicissitude of Things.

1969

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

Proposition touching Amendment of Laws.

1970

Knowledge is power.—Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. 2

Meditationes Sacræ. De Hæresibus.

1971

Whence we see spiders, flies, or ants entombed and preserved forever in amber, a more than royal tomb. 3

Historia Vitæ et Mortis; Sylva Sylvarum, Cent. i. Exper. 100.

1972

When you wander, as you often delight to do, you wander indeed, and give never such satisfaction as the curious time requires. This is not caused by any natural defect, but first for want of election, when you, having a large and fruitful mind, should not so much labour what to speak as to find what to leave unspoken. Rich soils are often to be weeded.

Letter of Expostulation to Coke.

Note 1.
The vicissitude of things.—Laurence Sterne: Sermon xvi. Richard Gifford: Contemplation. [back]

Note 2.
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.—Proverbs xxiv. 5.

Knowledge is more than equivalent to force.—Samuel Johnson: Rasselas, chap. xiii. [back]

Note 3.
The bee enclosed and through the amber shown,
Seems buried in the juice which was his own.
Martial: book iv. 32, vi. 15 (Hay’s translation).

I saw a flie within a beade
Of amber cleanly buried.
Robert Herrick: On a Fly buried in Amber.

Pretty! in amber to observe the forms
Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms.
Alexander Pope: Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, line 169. [back]

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