Francis Bacon Quotes

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.

Doubt is not below knowledge, but above it.

It is the duty of the human understanding to understand that there are things which it cannot understand, and what those things are

Science and literature are both ways to ask questions about why we're here.

It is clear, then, that wisdom is knowledge having to do with certain principles and causes. But now, since it is this knowledge that we are seeking, we must consider the following point: of what kind of principles and of what kind of causes is wisdom the knowledge?

Modern man may assert that he can dispense with them, and he may bolster his opinion by insisting that there is no scientific evidence of their truth. But since we are dealing with invisible and unknowable things (for God is beyond human understanding, and there is no mean of proving immortality), why should we bother with evidence?

The most important thing is insight, that is to be - curious - to wonder, to mull, and to muse why it is that man does what he does.

Why should not every individual man have existed more than once upon this world? Why should I not come back as often as I am capable of acquiring fresh knowledge? Is this hypothesis so laughable merely because it is the oldest? Because the human understanding, before the sophistries of the schools had dissipated and debilitated it, lighted upon it at once?

By doubting we are led to enquire, and by enquiry we perceive the truth.

So where are the strongAnd who are the trusted?And where is the harmony?Sweet harmony -'cause each time I feel it slippin away, it just makes me wanna cry:What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?

Any issue, including political, economic and religious activities human beings pursue in this world, should be fully understood before we pass our judgement. Therefore, it is very important to know the causes. Whatever the issue, we should be able to see the complete picture. This will enable us to comprehend the whole story.

Philosophy, the love of Wisdom, is at the very bottom defence against the incomprehensible.

Great is the faith of the flush of knowledge and of the investigation of the depths of qualities and things.

There is no knowledge and science like pondering and thought; and there is no prosperity and advancement like knowledge and science.

In the novel we can know people perfectly, and, apart from the general pleasure of reading, we can find here a compensation for their dimness in life.

Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.

One who never asks either knows everything or nothing.

As a child, I wanted to know how things worked and to control them. With a friend, I built a number of complicated models that I could control. It was a natural next step to want to know how the universe works.

There is a world of difference between facts and the truth. You can have so many facts that you don't deal with the truth. You never get to the truth. You have the places where, the people who, the times when, the reasons why, the methods how - blah blah. And never get to the human truth. The human truth is as elusive as the air. And as important as the air.

Science strives for answers, but art is happy with a good question.

If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development

Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy, inquiry the progress, ignorance the end.

[Science is] the desire to know causes.

I know that there is a reason for everything. Perhaps at the moment that an event occurs we have neither the insight or the foresight to comprehend the reason, but with time and patience it will come to light.

The difficulty in philosophy is to say no more than we know.