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
To say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that dishonesty is a defiance against divine authority while also displaying cowardice in human interactions.
Francis Bacon's quote reflects on the nature of truth and deception. He implies that when a person lies, they not only challenge the moral expectations from a higher power but also exhibit a lack of courage in their human relationships. This duality of bravery against God and cowardice before humans raises questions about integrity and moral courage.
Themes
LieTruthBraveryCowardiceMorality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a debate about the importance of honesty in society.
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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