Salomon saith, There is no new thing upon the earth. So that as Plato had an imagination, that all knowledge was but remembrance; so Salomon giveth his sentence, that all novelty is but oblivion.
Francis BaconRead
Brutes by their natural instinct have produced many discoveries, whereas men by discussion and the conclusions of reason have given birth to few or none.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Natural instincts can lead to discoveries, but human reasoning and discussion often yield fewer results.
This quote by Francis Bacon highlights the contrast between instinctual behavior observed in animals and the logical reasoning that characterizes human thought. Although instinct can lead to discoveries and innovations, it suggests that human reliance on reason, discussion, and rationality may result in fewer practical outcomes. Bacon implies that the process of reasoning can often become a barrier to creative thinking and discovery if not approached with the spontaneity that instinct provides.
Themes
DiscoveryReasonInstinctDiscussionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about learning styles, one might use this quote to argue for the importance of instinctual learning.
More from Francis Bacon
All quotes →Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.
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Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.
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Great art is always a way of concentrating, reinventing what is called fact, what we know of our existence- a reconcentration… tearing away the veils, the attitudes people acquire of their time and earlier time. Really good artists tear down those veils
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Wise men make more opportunities than they find.
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Knowledge and human power are synonymous.
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