Essays

Front Cover
Cosimo, Inc., 1. märts 2007 - 156 pages
In this collection of essays originally published in 1625, Bacon delves in to a variety of topics, using inductive reasoning to find truth based on observations of the world. The application of inductive reason to scientific and philosophical pursuits was a breakthrough in the history of human knowledge. Students of history and philosophy, as well as those intrigued by the world's great minds, can find in these essays Sir Francis Bacon's commentary on such topics as: .Death .Religion .Beauty .Friendship .Anger .The Nature of Men SIR FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) was a British scientist and philosopher who is best remembered for inventing the scientific method of hypothesis and experimentation that is used today. Many of his writings discussed how to use this method for philosophical inquiry. As a man of religion, Bacon was careful to distinguish between reason-based philosophy and faith-based revelation, considering both essential to human thought.

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Contents

Of Wisdom for a Mans Self
63
Of Innovations
65
Of Dispatch
66
Of Seeming Wise
67
Of Friendship
69
Of Expense
75
Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates
76
Of Regiment of Health
85

Of Envy
23
Of Love
28
Of Great Place
29
Of Boldness
33
Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature
34
Of Nobility
36
Of Seditions and Troubles
38
Of Atheism
44
Of Superstition
47
Of Travel
48
Of Empire
50
Of Counsel
55
Of Delays
59
Of Cunning
60
Of Suspicion
86
Of Discourse
87
Of Plantations
89
Of Riches
92
Of Prophecies
95
Of Ambition
98
Of Masques and Triumphs
100
Of Gardens
117
Of Negotiating
123
Of Faction
129
Of Honor and Reputation
135
Of Anger
141
Of Fame
147
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Page 130 - Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.
Page 24 - Chaste women are often proud and froward, as presuming upon the merit of their chastity. It is one of the best bonds, both of chastity and obedience, in the wife, if she think her husband wise, which she will never do if she find him jealous. Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses...
Page 103 - Multum incola fuit anima mea," * when they converse in those things they do not affect. In studies, whatsoever a man commandeth upon himself, let him set hours for it : but whatsoever is agreeable to his nature, let him take no care for any set times ; for his thoughts will fly to it of themselves, so as the spaces of other business or studies will suffice. A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds ; therefore, let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other.
Page 45 - I HAD rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran ', than that this universal frame is without a mind.
Page 9 - But howsoever these things are thus in men's depraved judgments and affections, yet truth, which only doth judge itself, teacheth that the inquiry of truth, which is the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the presence of it, and the belief of truths which is the enjoying of it, is the sovereign good of human nature.
Page 18 - Certainly, virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed. For prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
Page 31 - Nay, retire men cannot when they would, neither will they when it were reason, but are impatient of privateness, even in age and sickness, which require the shadow; like old townsmen, that will' be still sitting at their street door, though thereby they offer age to scorn.
Page 50 - If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do; first, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth ; then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was likewise said : let him carry with him also some card or book, describing the country where he travelleth, which will be a good key to his inquiry...

About the author (2007)

Francis Bacon was born on January 22, 1561 in London. After studying at Cambridge, Bacon began a legal career, ultimately becoming a barrister in 1582. Bacon continued his political ascent, and became a Member of Parliament in 1584. In 1600, he served as Queen Elizabeth's Learned Counsel in the trial of Robert Devereaux, the Earl of Essex. After numerous appointments under James I, Bacon admitted to bribery and fell from power. Much of Bacon's fame stems from the belief by some that he was the actual author of the plays of William Shakespeare. While many critics dismissed that belief, Bacon did write several important works, including a digest of laws, a history of Great Britain, and biographies of the Tudor monarchy, including Henry VII. Bacon was also interested in science and the natural world. His scientific theories are recorded in Novum Organum, published in 1620. Bacon's interest in science ultimately led to his death. After stuffing a fowl with snow to study the effect of cold on the decay of meat, he fell ill, and died of bronchitis on April 9, 1626.

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