Francis Bacon Quotes

The first general duty of princes is carefully to inform themselves of every thing, that falls under the complete discharge of their trust; for a person cannot well acquit himself in that, which he has not first rightly learnt.

Maybe we're the fools, for thinking we know things. Maybe humans are the only ones who can deal with the fact that nothing can ever be known at all.

Never think that you already know all. However highly you are appraised, always have the courage to say to yourself-I am ignorant.

The most perilous moment for a bad government is when it seeks to mend its ways. Only consummate statecraft can enable a king to save his throne when, after a long spell of oppression, he sets out to improve the lot of his subjects.

If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. [...] The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion. So whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants.

It is not what your supporters, friends or your political adversaries call you that matters. What is important is what you think you must do in the interests of the country, which put you in such position, such post as the Head of the Russian State.

King Hussein never lost his faith, no matter how difficult and unbearable and cruel the circumstances could be. I always remember that. It helps me get through everything. It's a way of trying to keep that positive spirit alive for as many people as we can touch. I think that's good for the world.

I often wonder what I'd do if there weren't any books in the world.

I think that there's only one person that defines the role of vice president of the United States. And, you know, we come in to [Donald Trump's] administration with a servant's heart, really prepared to serve and to support the president's agenda and his objectives in every way that he believes is appropriate.

How little we know of what there is to know. I wish that I were going to live a long time instead of going to die today because I have learned much about life in these four days; more, I think than in all other time. I'd like to be an old man to really know. I wonder if you keep on learning or if there is only a certain amount each man can understand. I thought I knew so many things that I know nothing of. I wish there was more time.

I don't have an opinion about whether or not politics should appear more in fiction or not, generally. I think politics are a part of life, but a part of life that most people don't think about very much, most of the time. Or, people think about it superficially and they talk about it superficially because they don't know very much.

Once a new idea springs into existence, it cannot be unthought. There is a sense of immortality in a new idea.

Leadership involves the heavy burden of responsibility, and the fear of getting it wrong can paralyze a leader.

If anybody would make me the greatest king that ever lived, with palaces, and gardens and fine dinners, and wine, and coaches, and beautiful clothes, and hundreds of servants, on condition that I would not read books, I would not be a king.

I don't think you ever learn just one thing. At some point you start unlearning things. I have been working hard to unlearn everything I know.

For the weak who seek power it'll bring, infallible the power, knowledge is king.

You can only be afraid of what you think you know.

When I die, now don't think that I'm a nut, don't want no fancy funeral, just one like old King Tut.

As a kid I got to like hang out with Stephen King. That was like the highlight of my life. Cause I think he's the raddest human being ever.

Wise? No, I simply learned to think.

To fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise without really being wise, for it is to think that we know what we do not know.

A king can stand people's fighting but he can't last long if people start thinking.

What is life but the angle of vision? A man is measured by the angle at which he looks at objects. What is life but what a man is thinking of all day? This is his fate and his employer. Knowing is the measure of the man. By how much we know, so we are.

The biggest challenge is people thinking you know everything going on in your company, because you're at the top of it and you started it. But the thing is, nobody knows everything about anything.

Why do you weep? Did you think I was immortal?