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
Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of critical thinking over passive reading.
Francis Bacon encourages readers to approach literature not merely to reaffirm their beliefs or to dispute others, but rather to engage with the material thoughtfully and critically. This perspective invites a deeper interaction with knowledge, fostering a mindset that prioritizes analysis and reflection over superficial acceptance or rejection.
Themes
ReadingCritical ThinkingKnowledgeAnalysisReflection
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club discussion, you might use this quote to encourage members to share their thoughts critically.
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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