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
For no man can forbid the spark nor tell whence it may come.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that creativity and inspiration are uncontrollable forces that cannot be restricted or predicted.
Francis Bacon's quote reflects the idea that the origin of inspiration and genius is mysterious and beyond the control of individuals. It implies that while one cannot dictate how or when a moment of creative insight will occur, it is a vital and inevitable spark that can emerge from anywhere, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of human thought and innovation.
Themes
CreativityInspirationSparkControlGenius
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a motivational speech about nurturing creativity in children.
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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