Francis Bacon

Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.

Young people are fitter to invent than to judge fitter for execution than for counsel and more fit for new projects than for settled business.

Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.

There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.

Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.

The worst men often give the best advice.

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.

Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite.

The momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.

Fashion is only the attempt to realize art in living forms and social intercourse.

Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.

A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.

Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.

Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses.

I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.

Age appears to be best in four things old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.