LEARNING FROM FRANCIS
BACON
(PART
TWO)
PART ONE which was posted yesterday (15th
March 2026) carried Bacon’s introduction and some quotes from his Esssays. Today’s post carries more
quotes from the same book packed with theoretical
as also practical wisdom.
1.
Revenge
is a kind of wild justice, which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought
law to weed it out.
2.
Certainly,
in taking revenge a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he
is superior; for it is a prince’s part to pardon: and Solomon, I am sure,
saith, It is the glory of man to pass by
an offence.
(Solomon –c.970-931 BCE -- was a Jewish prophet, portrayed as
wealthy, wise, powerful, and dedicated follower of God.)
3.
Good
things which belong to prosperity are to be wished; but the good things that
belong to adversity are to be admired.
4.
The
joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears.
5.
Children
sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter; they increase the care of life, but
they mitigate the remembrance of death.
6.
He
that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are
impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.
7.
Certainly
the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the
unmarried or childless men; which, both in
affection and means, have married and endowed the public.
8.
Wives are young men’s mistresses, companions
for middle age, and old men’s nurses; so as a man may have a quarrel to marry,
when he will. But yet he was reputed one of the wise men that made answer to
the question when a man should marry ---A
young man not yet, an elder man not at all.
9.
A
man that hath no virtue in himself ever envieth virtue in others. For men’s
minds will either feed upon their own good, or upon others’ evil; and who
wanteth the one will prey upon the other.
10.
Men of noble birth are noted to be envious
towards new men when they rise.
******** (To be continued)
G. R. Kanwal
16th March 2026
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