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It would be an unsound fancy and self-contradictory to expect that things which have never yet been done can be done except by means which have never yet been tried.

— Francis Bacon Novum Organum (1620)

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More quotes by Francis Bacon

For all knowledge and wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression of pleasure in itself.

The Advancement of Learning (1605)

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

The Advancement of Learning (1605)

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.

The Advancement of Learning (1605)

Truth will sooner come out from error than from confusion.

Novum Organum (1620)

The monuments of wit survive the monuments of power.

Essex's Device (1595)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Francis Bacon (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.