Francis Bacon

1561 – 1626 

Born in London, England

Was a statesman, philosopher, and scientist

At the age of 12 attended Trinity College at the University of Cambridge

Discovered and popularized the scientific method

* Some believe that Francis Bacon wrote some of William Shakespeare’s plays.  Shakespeare authorship question is a fringe theory, but nevertheless intersting.

Discovered Scientific Method which is still used today

Played a leading role in establishing the British colonies in North America

Thomas Jefferson wrote about Francis Bacon as one of three of the greatest men that have ever lived (the other two are Locke and Newton)

Essays –  As a father of the scientific method approach, he effectively applied it to the study of human nature.  This selection of essays, that originally were not intended for publishing, serves as a guide to understanding human behavior. 

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Intellectual / Hobbies

Crafty man contemne Studies;
simple men admire them:
and wise men use them.

Francis Bacon

Studies perfect Nature, and are perfected by Experience:
for naturall abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning by study:
and Studies themselves doe give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded by in experience.

Francis Bacon

To spend too much time in Studies, is sloth;
to use them too much for ornament, is affectation;
to make judgement wholly by their rules is the humour of a Scholler.

Francis Bacon

Reade not to contradict and confute;
nor to believe and take for granted;
nor to find talke and discourse;
but to weigh and consider.

Francis Bacon

Some Books are to be tasted,
others to be swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and digested:
that is, some Bookes are to be read onely in parts;
others to read by not curiously;
and some few to be read wholly, and with Diligence and Attention.

Francis Bacon

Reading maketh a full man;
Conference a ready man;
and Writing an exact man.

Francis Bacon

Histories make men wise;
Poets witty;
the Mathematics subtill;
Natural Philosophy deepe;
Morall grave;
Logick and Rhetorick able to contend.

Francis Bacon

Studies serve for Delight, for Ornament, and for Ability.
Their chiefe use for Delight is in privateness and retiring;
for Ornament is in discourse;
and for Ability, is in judgement and disposition of Businesse.

Francis Bacon

Habits and Habit Tracker

Abeunt studia in mores
Studies change into habits

Francis Bacon

Examine thy customes of diet, sleepe, exercise, apparell, and the like;
and trie, in any thing thou shalt judge hurtfull, to discontinue it by little and little

Francis Bacon

But let not a man trust his victorie over his nature too farre; for nature will lay buried a great time, and yet revive upon the occasion or temptation….
Therefore let a man either avoid the occasion altogether; or put himselfe often to it, the hee may be little moved with it.

Francis Bacon

Let not a man force a habit upon himselfe with a perpetual continuance, but with some intermission.
For both the pause reinforceth the new onset; and if a man that is not perfect be ever in practise, he shall as well practise his errours as his abilities; and induce one habit of both: and there is no meanes to helpe this but by seasonable intermissions

Francis Bacon

Hee that seeketh victory over his nature, let him not set himselfe too great nor too small tasks;
for the first will make him dejected by often faylings;
and the second will make him a small proceeder, though by often prevailing.

Francis Bacon

Goal Achievement Steps

Measure not dispatch by the times of sitting,
but by the advancement of the business.

Francis Bacon

.. The minde of man is more cheared, and refreshed by profiting in small things, then by standing at a stay in great.

Francis Bacon

It were good therefore that men in their Innovations would follow the example of Time itselfe: which indeed Innovateth greatly, but quietly, and by degrees scarce to be perceived.

Francis Bacon

There is surely no greater wisedome then well to time the beginnings and onset of things.

Francis Bacon