Francis Bacon

There is a cunning which we in England call the turning of the
cat in the pan.

There is a cunning which we in England call the turning of the
cat in the pan.

The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious read more

The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of man's body.

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him read more

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

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.