Francis Bacon

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but read more

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. 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.

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.

Because indeed there was never law, or sect, or opinion, did so
much magnify goodness, as the Christian religion read more

Because indeed there was never law, or sect, or opinion, did so
much magnify goodness, as the Christian religion doth.

Again men have been kept back as by a kind of enchantment from progress in science by reverence for antiquity, read more

Again men have been kept back as by a kind of enchantment from progress in science by reverence for antiquity, by the authority of men counted great in philosophy, and then by general consent.

Children sweeten labours; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the care of life; but they mitigate the remembrance read more

Children sweeten labours; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the care of life; but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity of generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men; which have sought to express the images of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed.