APHORISMS BOOK I 



ON THE INTERPRETATION OF NATURE AND THE 

 EMPIRE OF MAN 



I. MAN, as the minister and interpreter of nature, does 

 and understands as much as his observations on the order 

 of nature, either with regard to things or the mind, permit 

 him, and neither knows nor is capable of more. 



II. The unassisted hand and the understanding left to 

 itself possess but little power. Effects are produced by the 

 means of instruments and helps, which the understanding 

 requires no less than the hand; and as instruments either 

 promote or regulate the motion of the hand, so those that 

 are applied to the mind prompt or protect the understanding. 



III. Knowledge and human power are synonymous, since 

 the ignorance of the cause frustrates the effect; for nature is 

 only subdued by submission, and that which in contem--, 

 plative philosophy corresponds with the cause in practical 

 science becomes the rule. 



IV. Man while operating can only apply or withdraw 

 natural bodies; nature internally performs the rest. 



Y. Those who become practically versed in nature are, 

 the mechanic, the mathematician, the physician, the al 

 chemist, and the magician, 1 but all (as matters now stand) 

 with faint efforts and meagre success. 



1 Bacon uses the term in its ancient sense, and means one who, knowing 

 the occult properties of bodies, is able to startle the ignorant by drawing out of 

 them wonderful and unforeseen changes. See the 85th aphorism of this book, 

 and the 5th cap. book iii. of the De Augmentis Bcientiarum, where he speaks 

 more clearly Ed. 



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