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
If any human being earnestly desire to push on to new discoveries instead of just retaining and using the old; to win victories over Nature as a worker rather than over hostile critics as a disputant; to attain, in fact, clear and demonstrative knowlegde instead of attractive and probable theory; we invite him as a true son of Science to join our ranks.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the pursuit of genuine knowledge and discoveries rather than mere theoretical discussions.
In this quote, Francis Bacon highlights the importance of actively seeking new discoveries and understanding through empirical evidence, rather than simply engaging in debates or holding onto established theories. He invites those who genuinely strive for clarity and demonstrative knowledge to join the ranks of scientific inquiry, advocating for a hands-on, innovative approach to learning about the natural world.
Themes
ScienceDiscoveryKnowledgeNatureInnovation
In practice
Example use cases
In a science conference, to inspire researchers to embrace new methodologies.
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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