The Works of Francis Bacon, Volume 11

Front Cover
M. Jones, 1815
 

Selected pages

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 264 - ... resembling those, which, in our time, that antipode to things, as well as to himself, Cardan, busied himself in forming. But, whilst I thus arraign the works of Aristotle, let me not be supposed a conspirator and in league with Ramus, that modern rebel against him. I have no affection for that sculking hole of ignorance, that destructive bookworm of learning, that father of epitomes, who, when he wrings and presses things with the shackles of his method and contraction, the substance, if there...
Page 135 - The Hon. Daines Barrington observes of this law, that " it hath been most completely executed of any in the Statute Book."** Respecting the qualities of tobacco, the writers of the olden time entertained great contrariety of opinion. Bacon says, " The use of tobacco has spread very wide in our time, and gives a secret delight to those who take it ; insomuch that the persons once accustomed thereto find a difficulty to leave it off: and doubtless it contributes to alleviate fatigues, and discharge...
Page 11 - Sylvarum ; where we endeavoured to penetrate and pass through the woods of nature, thick set and darkened with a great variety of experiments, as with leaves; and entangled and twined together, like shrubs and bushes, with the subtilty of observations. We are now, perhaps, proceeding to the more open parts of nature, which however are still more difficult; and having got through the woods, are come to the bottoms of the mountains...
Page 46 - ... from the necessities of mankind, but becoming ministers of the divine power and goodness, both in prolonging and restoring the life of man ; especially as this may be effected by safe, commodious, and not illiberal means, though hitherto unattempted.
Page 46 - ... and goodness, both in prolonging and restoring the life of man ; especially as this may be effected by safe, commodious, and not illiberal means, though hitherto unattempted. And certainly it would be an earnest of divine favor if, whilst we are journeying to the land of promise, our garments, those frail bodies of ours, were not greatly to wear out in the wilderness of this world.
Page 109 - Bacon seems to be of opinion, that the term of human life has not been shortened since the time of the sons of Noah. We give a short extract from his works; though his Advancement of Learning, or his Fables, would better justify our eulogy. " The succession of ages, and of the generations of men, seems no way to shorten the length of human life; since the age of man down from Moses's time to the present, has stood at about eighty years, without gradually declining, as one might have expected. But,...
Page 267 - ... from their deserved reproach, and preserve them unattacked ; whilst himself most feebly and unequally pretends to perfect their art and fill up their office. This is the man that, like the raging dog-star, or the plague, devotes mankind to death and destruction by pronouncing such tribes of diseases incurable, taking away all glimmering of hope, and leaving no room for future industry.
Page 263 - But they, indeed, are more excusable than their haughty dictator, because they did not, like him, oflend against better light and knowledge : for he, after having trod in the open plains of history, and viewed the works of nature, yet dug to himself a dungeon and filled it with the vainest idols. And what adds to his guilt, he has, even upon the history of particulars, raised certain cobweb structures which he would...
Page 109 - ... when the times are more polite, or abound in luxury and ease : but these things have their changes and revolutions ; whilst the succession of mankind holds on uninterrupted in its course. And, no question, but the case is the same in other animals; as neither oxen, horses, sheep, &c.
Page 262 - ... apprehended only to act a part, and under colour side with some or other of them, since they cherish such violent disputes and animosities among themselves. Let Aristotle first appear, whom we charge 1. with abominable sophistry ; 2. useless subtilty ; and 3. a vile sporting with words. Nay, when men by any accident, as by a favourable gale, arrived at any truth, and there cast anchor, this man had the assurance to fetter tiie mind with the heaviest irons ; and, composing a certain art of madness,...

Bibliographic information