Francis Bacon

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, and not when it misses.

A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

For there is no bond of society but in knowledge.

The contemplation of things as they are, without superstition or imposture, without error or confusion, is in itself a nobler thing than a whole harvest of invention.

It is as natural to die as to be born.

Judges ought to remember that their office is jus dicere, and not jus dare; to interpret law, and not to make law, or give law.

The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.

Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, though religion were not; but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men.

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws.

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

There is in human nature generally, more of the fool than of the wise; and therefore those faculties, by which the foolish part of men's minds is taken, are most potent.

A man's nature, runs either to herbs or weeds; therefore let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other.

Imperial expansion is preferable to civil war, and that Britain is faced with something of a binary choice.

I like a plantation in a pure soil; that is, where people are not displanted to the end to plant in others; for else it is rather an extirpation than a plantation.

Conquest, acquisition of peoples and territory through force, followed by subjugation, confers a legal right and title.

Paradoxically, Bacon holds that the internally colonized may be treated with greater severity, as suppressed rebels, than the externally colonized, who are more fitly a subject of the ius gentium.

Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring. For good thoughts (though God accept them) yet towards men are little better than good dreams, except they be put in act; and that cannot be without power and place, as the vantage and commanding ground.

Judges ought to remember that their office is jus dicere, and not jus dare; to interpret law, and not to make law, or give law. Else will it be like the authority, claimed by the Church of Rome, which under pretext of exposition of Scripture, doth not stick to add and alter; and to pronounce that which they do not find; and by show of antiquity, to introduce novelty.

Laws are made to guard the rights of the people, not to feed the lawyers. The laws should be read by all, known to all. Put them into shape, inform them with philosophy, reduce them in bulk, give them into every man's hand.