FRANCIS BACON SAID
The English philosopher and statesman
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was also a great essayist. He wrote fiftyeight essays
on a wide range of subjects. Some of the titles of his essays are: Of Truth, Of
Death, Of Unity In Religion, Of Revenge, Of Adversity, Of Parents And Children,
Of Marriage And Single Life, Of Nobility, Of Friendship, Of Studies, etc.
Writers’ opinion about his character
and caliber differs. According to Alexander Pope he was “the wisest, brightest,
meanest of mankind.” Ben Jonson found him “one of the greatest men, and most
worthy of admiration that had been in many ages. “
Many writers regarded him as a
scholar of tremendous learning who took all knowledge for his tremendous learning.
Moreover, he represented the first union in English literature of the man of
letters and the man of science.
Given below are some of his eternal
sayings:
1.Studies
serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
2. Read not
to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find
talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.
3. Some
books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and
digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read,
but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and
attention.
4.
Conference maketh a ready man. Conversation makes a quick-witted man.
5. Knowledge
is power. A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
6. Hope is a
good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
7. Silence
is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.
8. A man
that is young in years may be old in hours, if he has lost no time.
9. Praise is
the reflection of virtue, but it is as the glass to the body, which giveth the
reflection.
10. Virtue
is like a rich stone, best plain set : and surely virtue is best in a body that
is comely, though not of delicate features; and that hath rather dignity of
presence, than beauty of aspect.
11. Travel,
in the youngest sort, is a part of education: in the elder, a part of
experience.
12. Revenge
is a kind of wild justice, which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought
law to weed it out.
13. Men fear
death as children fear to go in the dark.
14. Wives
are young men’s mistresses, companions for middle age, and old man’s nurses; so
as a man may have a quarrel to marry, when he will.
15. Whoever
is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.
*******
G.R.Kanwal
20 July 2025
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