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
It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit of power can lead to the loss of personal freedom and self-control.
This quote by Francis Bacon reflects the paradoxical nature of human desires, specifically the ambition for power. It suggests that in the quest for authority and control over others, individuals may sacrifice their own liberty and autonomy, highlighting the importance of balancing ambition with self-governance and ethical considerations in the pursuit of power.
Themes
PowerLibertySelf-ControlDesireAmbition
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the ethical implications of leadership.
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
Francis BaconRead
Wise men make more opportunities than they find.
Francis BaconRead
Knowledge and human power are synonymous.
Francis BaconRead
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