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Francis Bacon Quotes about Science - Page 2

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No one has yet been found so firm of mind and purpose as resolutely to compel himself to sweep away all theories and common notions, and to apply the understanding, thus made fair and even, to a fresh examination of

No one has yet been found so firm of mind and purpose as resolutely to compel himself to sweep away all theories and common notions, and to apply the understanding, thus made fair and even, to a fresh examination of particulars. Thus it happens that human knowledge, as we have it, is a mere medley and ill-digested mass, made up of much credulity and much accident, and also of the childish notions which we at first imbibed.

Knowledge, Science, Understanding

Francis Bacon (2012). “The Great Instauration”, p.63, Simon and Schuster

Human knowledge and human power meet in one; for where the cause is not known the effect cannot be produced. Nature to be commanded must be obeyed; and that which in contemplation is as the cause is in operation as the rule.

Knowledge, Science, Causes

Francis Bacon, Rose-Mary Sargent (1999). “Selected Philosophical Works”, p.90, Hackett Publishing

Man, being the servant and interpreter of Nature, can do and understand so much and so much only as he has observed in fact or thought of the course of nature; beyond this he neither knows anything nor can do anything.

Nature, Knowledge, Science

Francis Bacon, Rose-Mary Sargent (1999). “Selected Philosophical Works”, p.89, Hackett Publishing

I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my province.

Taken, Knowledge, Science

Francis Bacon, Basil Montagu (1834). “The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England: A New Edition:”, p.274

Neither the naked hand nor the understanding left to itself can effect much. It is by instruments and helps that the work is done, which are as much wanted for the understanding as for the hand. And as the instruments of the hand either give motion or guide it, so the instruments of the mind supply either suggestions for the understanding or cautions.

Science, Hands, Giving

Francis Bacon (2012). “The Great Instauration”, p.28, Simon and Schuster

It is idle to expect any great advancement in science from the superinducing and engrafting of new things upon old. We must begin anew from the very foundations, unless we would revolve for ever in a circle with mean and contemptible progress.

Mean, Science, Circles

Francis Bacon, Robert Leslie Ellis, William Rawley (1861). “The philosophical works of Francis Bacon, with prefaces and notes by the late Robert Leslie Ellis, together with English translations of the principal Latin pieces”, p.52

Take an arrow, and hold it in flame for the space of ten pulses, and when it cometh forth you shall find those parts of the arrow which were on the outsides of the flame more burned, blacked, and turned almost to coal, whereas the midst of the flame will be as if the fire had scarce touched it. This is an instance of great consequence for the discovery of the nature of flame; and sheweth manifestly, that flame burneth more violently towards the sides than in the midst.

Science, Flames, Arrows

Francis Bacon (1778). “The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England: In Five Volumes”, p.145

Men are rather beholden ... generally to chance or anything else, than to logic, for the invention of arts and sciences.

Art, Science, Men

Francis Bacon (2010). “Bacon's Advancement of Learning and the New Atlantis”, p.132, Lulu.com

But the best demonstration by far is experience, if it go not beyond the actual experiment.

Science, Demonstration, Experiments

Francis Bacon, Rose-Mary Sargent (1999). “Selected Philosophical Works”, p.110, Hackett Publishing

It is madness and a contradiction to expect that things which were never yet performed should be effected, except by means hitherto untried.

Mean, Science, Madness

Francis Bacon (1813). “The Novum Organum Scientiarum: In Two Parts”, p.2

Medical men do not know the drugs they use, nor their prices.

Science, Men, Drug

De Erroribus Medicorum

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.

Nature, Science, Overcoming

'Essays' (1625) 'Of Nature in Men'

If a man's wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores, splitters of hairs.

Science, Men, Hair

Francis Bacon, William Rawley (1858). “The Works of Francis Bacon: Literary and professional works”, p.498

There is another ground of hope that must not be omitted. Let men but think over their infinite expenditure of understanding, time, and means on matters and pursuits of far less use and value; whereof, if but a small part were directed to sound and solid studies, there is no difficulty that might not be overcome.

Mean, Science, Men

Francis Bacon (2012). “The Great Instauration”, p.69, Simon and Schuster

Man, as the minister and interpreter of nature, is limited in act and understanding by his observation of the order of nature; neither his understanding nor his power extends further.

Science, Men, Order

But the greatest error of all the rest is the mistaking or misplacing of the last or farthest end of knowledge: for men have entered into a desire of learning and knowledge, sometimes upon a natural curiosity and inquisitive appetite; sometimes to entertain their minds with variety and delight; sometimes for ornament and reputation; and sometimes to enable them to victory of wit and contradiction; and most times for lucre and profession; and seldom sincerely to give a true account of their gift of reason, to the benefit and use of men.

Knowledge, Science, Men

Francis Bacon (1765). “The works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England, in five volumes”, p.81

But by far the greatest hindrance and aberration of the human understanding proceeds from the dullness, incompetency, and deceptions of the senses; in that things which strike the sense outweigh things which do not immediately strike it, though they be more important. Hence it is that speculation commonly ceases where sight ceases; insomuch that of things invisible there is little or no observation.

Science, Sight, Understanding

Francis Bacon (2012). “The Great Instauration”, p.36, Simon and Schuster

Brutes by their natural instinct have produced many discoveries, whereas men by discussion and the conclusions of reason have given birth to few or none.

Science, Men, Discovery

Novum Organum LXXIII

There were taken apples, and ... closed up in wax. ... After a month's space, the apple inclosed in was was as green and fresh as the first putting in, and the kernals continued white. The cause is, for that all exclusion of open air, which is ever predatory, maintaineth the body in its first freshness and moisture.

Taken, Science, Apples

But by far the greatest obstacle to the progress of science and to the undertaking of new tasks and provinces therein is found in this-that men despair and think things impossible.

Science, Men, Thinking

Francis Bacon (2012). “The Great Instauration”, p.60, Simon and Schuster

The divisions of science are not like different lines that meet in one angle, but rather like the branches of trees that join in one trunk.

Science, Differences, Tree

Francis Bacon (2016). “The Advancement of Learning”, p.93, Jazzybee Verlag

Certainly, it is heaven upon earth, to have a man's mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.

Moving, Science, Men

Francis Bacon, Basil Montagu (1854). “The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England”, p.11

The human understanding is moved by those things most which strike and enter the mind simultaneously and suddenly, and so fill the imagination; and then it feigns and supposes all other things to be somehow, though it cannot see how, similar to those few things by which it is surrounded.

Science, Imagination, Understanding

Francis Bacon “The New Organon: or True Directions Concerning the Interpretation of Nature”, Library of Alexandria

The human understanding is unquiet; it cannot stop or rest, and still presses onward, but in vain. Therefore it is that we cannot conceive of any end or limit to the world, but always as of necessity it occurs to us that there is something beyond... But he is no less an unskilled and shallow philosopher who seeks causes of that which is most general, than he who in things subordinate and subaltern omits to do so

Science, Understanding, Enquiry

Francis Bacon (2012). “The Great Instauration”, p.35, Simon and Schuster

It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other.

Death, Children, Science

'Essays' (1625) 'Of Death'

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