The Works of Francis Bacon: Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of England, Volume 2

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Baynes and son, 1824 - English essays

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Page 105 - The End of our Foundation is the knowledge of Causes and secret motions of things, and the enlarging of the bounds of Human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible.
Page 314 - A man can scarce allege his own merits with modesty, much less extol them; a man cannot sometimes brook to supplicate or beg; and a number of the like. But all these things are graceful in a friend's mouth which are blushing in a man's own.
Page 255 - REVENGE is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out. For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong putteth the law out of office.
Page 261 - HE that hath wife and children, hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.
Page 358 - And because the breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air (where it comes and goes, like the warbling of music,) than in the hand, therefore nothing is more fit for that delight, than to know what be the flowers and plants that do best perfume the air.
Page 262 - 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 255 - ... and it is two for one. Some, when they take revenge, are desirous the party should know whence it cometh : this is the more generous. For the delight seemeth to be not so much in doing the hurt as in making the party repent : but base and crafty cowards are like the arrow that flieth in the dark. Cosmus, duke of Florence, had a desperate saying against perfidious or neglecting friends, as if those wrongs were unpardonable : You shall read (saith he) that we are commanded to forgive our enemies;...
Page 350 - Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end without consideration of the means and degrees ; pursue some few principles, which they have chanced upon, absurdly; care not...
Page 494 - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath...
Page 332 - It is the sinfullest thing in the world to forsake or destitute a plantation, once in forwardness : for besides the dishonour, it is the guiltiness of blood of many commiserable persons.

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