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
Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.
Interpretation
Cunning individuals may be mistaken for wise leaders, which can harm society.
In this quote, Francis Bacon emphasizes the danger of equating cunning with wisdom. He suggests that those who are clever in deceitful ways can rise to positions of influence and authority, misleading others and potentially causing harm to the state or community. True wisdom involves integrity and sound judgment, unlike the superficial cleverness of cunning individuals, whose motives may not align with the greater good.
In practice
In a discussion about political leadership, one might quote Bacon to emphasize the importance of genuine wisdom over cunning tactics.
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.
Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.
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Wise men make more opportunities than they find.
Knowledge and human power are synonymous.
Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.
One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without thinking. I always try to think before I talk.
Learn to be pleased with everything...because it could always be worse, but isn't!
Words will not fail when the matter is well considered.
There is a courageous wisdom; there is also a false, reptile prudence, the result not of caution but of fear.
Words are like arrows, Arianne. Once loosed, you cannot call them back. - Areo Hotah
The trite objects of human efforts-possessions, superficial success, luxury-have always seemed contemptible to me.
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