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
He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Having a family can both enrich and limit one's ambitions and opportunities.
This quote by Francis Bacon suggests that those who have a wife and children are tied to certain responsibilities that can hinder their ability to pursue great endeavors, whether they be virtuous or mischievous. The metaphor of 'hostages to fortune' implies that one's family commitments may restrict personal freedom and the potential for taking risks in life.
Themes
FamilyResponsibilityAmbitionFortuneCommitment
In practice
Example use cases
During a family gathering, one might say this quote to discuss how responsibilities can impact personal goals.
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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