Francis Bacon

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see
Fortune: for though she be blind, yet she read more

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see
Fortune: for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may read more

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.

Nothing destroys authority so much as the unequal and untimely interchange of power, pressed too far and relaxed too much.

Nothing destroys authority so much as the unequal and untimely interchange of power, pressed too far and relaxed too much.

Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him,
and from the top of it read more

Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him,
and from the top of it offer up his prayers for the observers of
his law. The people assembled; Mahomet called the hill to come
to him, again and again, and when the hill stood still, he was
never a whit abashed, but said, "If the hill will not come to
Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill."

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.