Bacon's Essays

What it's about

Fifty-eight compact essays on truth, death, revenge, friendship, ambition, studies, gardens and much else, written by a statesman who weighed every sentence. Bacon's final 1625 text, with the editor's footnote numbers left in place.

Who it's for

- Readers who like wisdom in short, quotable form - Anyone interested in practical advice on power, money and people - Readers of Montaigne who want a more compressed English counterpart

What’s inside

1. 1

   I.—OF TRUTH.

   4 min
2. 2

   II.—OF DEATH.

   3 min
3. 3

   III.—OF UNITY IN RELIGION.

   7 min
4. 4

   IV.—OF REVENGE.

   2 min
5. 5

   V.—OF ADVERSITY.

   2 min
6. 6

   VI.—OF SIMULATION AND DISSIMULATION.

   5 min
7. 7

   VII.—OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

   2 min
8. 8

   VIII.—OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE.

   3 min
9. 9

   IX.—OF ENVY.

   8 min
10. 10

    X.—OF LOVE.

    3 min
11. 11

    XI.—OF GREAT PLACE.

    5 min
12. 12

    XII.—OF BOLDNESS.

    3 min
13. 13

    XIII.—OF GOODNESS, AND GOODNESS OF NATURE.

    4 min
14. 14

    XIV.—OF NOBILITY.

    2 min
15. 15

    XV.—OF SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES.

    10 min
16. 16

    XVI.—OF ATHEISM.

    4 min
17. 17

    XVII.—OF SUPERSTITION.

    2 min
18. 18

    XVIII.—OF TRAVEL.

    4 min
19. 19

    XIX.—OF EMPIRE.

    7 min
20. 20

    XX.—OF COUNSEL.

    7 min
21. 21

    XXI.—OF DELAYS.

    1 min
22. 22

    XXII.—OF CUNNING.

    6 min
23. 23

    XXIII.—OF WISDOM FOR A MAN’S SELF.

    2 min
24. 24

    XXIV.—OF INNOVATIONS.

    2 min

Showing the first 24 of 58 chapters — open the book for the rest.

What readers say

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Summary

The Wisdom of InsecurityAlan WattsSummary12 min