Francis Bacon

He that gives good advice, builds with one hand he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.

Acorns were good until bread was found.

God's first creature, which was light.

But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.

God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.

Small amounts of philosophy lead to atheism, but larger amounts bring us back to God.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.

God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.

Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes adversity not without many comforts and hopes.

Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education in the elder, a part of experience.

I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death.

Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark and as that natural fear in children is increased by tales, so is the other.

Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.

Young people are fitter to invent than to judge fitter for execution than for counsel and more fit for new projects than for settled business.

Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.

There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.