A Finding List: Part I.

Bacon’s Words and Phrases of the English then of the Latin

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W-X-Y-Z

I (English)

I had rather know than be known (Bacon, Densi et Rari & Promus).

I have taken all knowledge to be my province (Bacon, Letter to Lord Burghley, 1592).

I hold every man a debtor to his profession From the which as men of course do seek to receive countenance and profit, so ought they of duty to endeavour themselves, by way of amends, to be a help and ornament thereunto. (Bacon, Maxims of the Law).

I love a confessing modesty, hate an accusing one (Bacon, De Aug).

I was the justest judge that was in England these fifty years; but it was the justest censure in Parliament that was these two hundred years. In a notebook destined only for his own private use, Bacon’s secretary, Dr. William Rawley, begins a number of sayings and anecdotes, having reference to his master, in a cipher, which is anything but very complicated; it was resorted to, lest any servant, into whose hands the book might happen to fall, should be able to read the contents. Mysterious as the cipher may appear at the first glance, all Rawley did was to write down an English sentence in Greek consonants, applying the numerals 1 to 6 instead of the vowels, thus: 1=a, 2 = e, 3 = i, 4 = 0, 5=u, 6=y. Solved with this key, the words in one of Rawley’s cipher reads: “I. Apophthegms. My Lo.: I was the justest judge that was in England these 50 years: but it was the justest censure in Parliament that was these 200 years.” [Also see Part III: Rawley’s Notebook].

Idola, [είδολα]; Doctrine in Nov. Org., an attempt to classify according to their origin the false and ill-defined notions by which the mind is commonly beset.
Bacon enumerates four kinds: the idols of the tribe, of the cave, of the market place, and of the theatre. The above classification is borrowed from Roger Bacon in his Opus Majus printed in the eighteenth century; he speaks of four hindrances whereby men are kept back from the attainment of true knowledge. A copy of the Opus Majus may not have been procurable in Bacon’s time and it’s possible Bacon knew of him at that time chiefly by his reputation for mechanical inventions.
Idols of the tribe are those which belong, as Aristotle might have said, to the human mind as it is human, the erroneous tendencies common more or less to all mankind. [Also see Idols of the Tribe.]
The idols of the cave arise from each man’s mental constitution: the metaphor being suggested by a passage in the opening of the seventh book of Plato’s Republic. [Also see Idols of the Cave.]
Both classes of extraneous idols mentioned in the Partis secundæ Delineatio are included in the idola theatri, and the idola fori correspond to nothing in the earlier classification.
Idols of the market place are called so because they are caused by the daily intercourse of common life. [Also see Idols of the Market place.]
That if any have had or shall have the power and resolution to fortify and enclose his mind against all anticipations, yet if he have not been or shall not be cautioned by the full understanding of the nature of the mind and spirit of man, and therein of the seats, pores, and passages both of knowledge and error, he hath not been, nor shall not be, possibly able to guide or keep on his course aright. (Bacon, Val. Term., C.17). No part of Bacon’s works is more valuable than his exact and sagacious exposition of the general, or rather natural, sources of error. He calls these prejudices by the expressive name of idols, the false objects of false worship, vain, delusive, and dangerous. The student who desires to follow up Bacon’s profound comments on these various idola will be helped by consulting Playfair’s Preliminary Dissertation. (Encyclopædia Britannica).

Idolon The word is used by Bacon in antithesis to idea. He does not mean by it an idol or false object of worship. (Bacon, Nov. Org). 1

Idols of the Cave False appearances imposed upon us by every man’s own individual nature and custom. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Idols of the Market place False appearances that are imposed upon us by words. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Idols of the Tribe False appearances that are imposed upon us by the general nature of the mind. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

If a man watch too long, it is odds he will fall asleep. (Bacon, Essays: Of Delays).

If a tree has to my knowledge borne apples for twenty years, I suppose I may suspect some mistake when I am told that it has borne crabs on the twenty-first. (Spedding).

If it befall to me as befalleth to the fools, why should I labour to be more wise? (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

If you will be heavenly you must have influence. (Gesta Grayorum).

Ignorance For the allegation that learning would undermine the reverence due to laws and government, it is a mere calumny, without shadow of truth. Learning makes the mind pliable to government, whereas ignorance renders it churlish and mutinous, and it is always found that the most barbarous, rude, and ignorant times have been most tumultuous, changeable, and seditious. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. L).
There is no decaying Marchant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks to uphold the credit of their wealth, as these empty persons have to maintain the credit of their sufficiency. (Bacon, Essay: Of Seeming Wise; Early Edition).

Illumination So in like manner there cannot but be a fraternity in learning and illumination, relating to that paternity which is attributed to God, who is called the father of illuminations or lights. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).
He had made his course t’illume that part of heaven. (Shakespeare). 2
Compare relume [re-light] in Othello ActV. Sc. 2.13. Modern scholars believe the word illumination was coined by Shakespeare.

Imagination In all persuasions that are wrought by eloquence, and other impressions of like nature, which do paint and disguise the true appearance of things, the chief recommendation unto Reason is from the Imagination. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).
When an envious or amorous aspect doth infect the spirits of another, there is joined both affection and imagination. (Bacon, Nat. Hist. 909).
Poesy is a part of learning in measure of words, for the most part restrained, but in all other points extremely licensed, and doth truly refer to the Imagination, which, not being tied to the laws of matter, may at pleasure join that which Nature hath severed, and sever that which Nature hath joined, and so make unlawful matches and divorces of things. Poets and Painters have always been allowed to take what liberties they would. (Bacon, Adv. Bk. II). [Also see: Poesy]

Imago Species. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum XXII).

Imitation As for imitation, it is certain that there is in men and other creatures a predisposition to imitate. We see how ready apes and monkeys are to imitate all motions of man: and in the catching of dotrells, we see how the foolish bird playeth the ape in gestures, and no man in effect doth accompany others, but he learneth, ere he is aware, some gesture, or choice, or fashion of the other. (Bacon, Nat. Hist. 327).
In the discharge of thy place, set before thee the best examples; for imitation is a globe of precepts. (Bacon, Essay: Of Great Place).
Imitations of winds If men could enjoy to bring themselves not to fix their thoughts too intently on the consideration of the subject before them, rejecting everything else as irrelevant, and not to refine with endless and mostly unprofitable speculations thereon, they would never be so dull as they are wont to be, but by a free passage and transference of their thoughts they would find many things at a distance which near at hand are concealed. (Bacon, History of Winds). [Also see Names of Winds.]

Improvement When man’s understanding is emancipated and come, as it were, of age, there cannot but follow an improvement in his estate, and an enlargement of his dominion over nature. For man by the fall fell at the same time from his state of innocency and from his dominion over creation. Both of these losses, however, can even in this life be in some part repaired; the former by religion and faith, the latter by arts and sciences. (Bacon, Nov. Org).

Imposition of names in Paradise In illustration of natural knowledge, is common in the writings of the schoolmen. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. I).

Impulsive motion [motus plagæ]; In accordance with this Bacon censures Democritus for departing from a principle in giving his atoms the downward motion of gravity which belong to ordinary bodies. (Bacon, De principiis Atque Originibus).

In more grief than I can well express, and much more than I can well dissemble. (Bacon, Letter to the Earl of Essex, 1592­–93).

Incense To stir up to anger. (Cockeram).
After this, during the while since my Lord was committed to my Lord Keeper’s, I came divers times to the Queen, as I had used to do, about causes of her revenue and law business, as is well known: by reason of which accesses, according to the ordinary charities of Court, it was given out, that I was one of them that incensed the Queen against my Lord of Essex. (Bacon, Apologie, 1603).

Inconstancy If inconstancy of mind be added to the inconstancy of fortune, in what darkness do we live? (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. VI. Antitheta).

Induction Err; M. de St. Hilaire in his translation of the treatise De animâ of Aristotle states that Bacon claimed to be the first discoverer of induction. (Bacon, Nov. Org).

Industry The things obtained by your own industry are generally achieved by labour and exertion. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. VI).

Ingratitude The crime of Ingratitude is not restrained by punishments, but given over to the Furies. The bonds of benefits are stricter than the bonds of duties; wherefore he that is ungrateful is unjust, and every way bad. This is the condition of humanity: no man is born in so public a fortune but he must obey the private calls both of gratitude and revenge. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. VI. Antitheta).

Injections Berengario of Carpi, died at Ferrara in 1550, is said to have been the first person who made use of injections in order to render the vessels visible. He employed water, probably coloured, for this purpose. Swammerdam was the first to inject with wax. In one branch of anatomy, namely the doctrine of the development of the osseous parts, the use of madder in the food of the living animal has led to more results. It stains the portions of bone developed during its use of a bright red. Duhamel was the first to use this means of studying the growth of bone. Flourens had also employed it. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. IV).

Innocence The being conscious that a man is clear, and free from fault, affords great consolation in calamity. The calamities of worthy persons are lightened and tempered by the consciousness of innocence and merit. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. VI. Sophisms).

Innovation As the births of all living creatures at first are illshapen, so are all Innovations, which are the births of time. (Bacon, Essay: Of Innovation).

Inquination [μόλυνσις]; molinsis; infection; only one kind of inconcoction or elixation. (Bacon, Syl. Sylv).

Inscriptions It is a curiosity to have inscriptions or engravings in fruit or trees. This is easily performed by writing with a needle or bodkin or knife or the like, when the fruit or trees are young; for, as they grow, so the letters will grow more large and graphical. (Bacon, Natural History) which was taken from Virgil: “I prefer to endure hardships in a forest, in the haunts of wild beasts, and carve my loves on young trees, then, as the trees grow, ye, my loves, will grow.” 3

Instance In Bacon’s time this corresponds more closely to the meaning of observation than to any other which is used in modern scientific language.

Intermediate axioms Limitations; particular cases. (Bacon, Nov. Org).

Invent Bacon uses the word invent simply as equivalent to invenir. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Invention of sciences Having digested it into two parts, whereof the one I term Experientia literata, and the other Interpretatio naturæ; the former being but a degree or rudiment of the latter. (Bacon, Adv).

Is not the delight of the quavering upon a stop in music the same with the playing of light upon the water? (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Issued But to your Majesty, whom God hath already blessed with so much royal issue, worthy to continue and represent you forever, and whose youthful and fruitful bed doth yet promise many the like renovations, it is proper and agreeable to be conversant not only in the transitory parts of good government, but in those acts also which are in their nature permanent and perpetual. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).
But if the eldest son leave any issue, though he die in the life of his father, then neither the second son nor the issue of the eldest shall inherit the father’s lands, but the father there shall be accounted to die without heirs, and the land shall be escheat. (Bacon, The Use of the Law).

It is hard to remember all, ungrateful to pass by any. (Bacon, De Aug.; Cicero, Post Red. C. 12).

It is necessary sometimes to correct the knowledge we receive. (D’Israeli). 4

It is part of the gift if you deny genteelly what is asked of you. (Bacon, Remains).

It is strange how men, like owls, see sharply in the darkness of their own notions, but in the daylight of experience wink and are blinded. (Bacon, History of Life and Death).

It should be pregnant with politic precepts, but the writer should not play the midwife. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

I (Latin)

Igneus est ollis vigor, et cœlestis origo The living fire that glows those seeds within remembers its celestial origin. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Ijsdem e’literis efficitur tragædia et comedia Tragedies and comedies are made of one alphabet. (Bacon, Promus: 516; Erasmus’s Adagia, 725).

Ille crucem pretium sceleris tulit, hic diadema The same crime is rewarded in one man with a gibbet and in another with a crown. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Imo extra caulas Nay, outside the sheepfold. (Bacon).

Importunè, opportunè Out of season, in season. (Bacon, Apologie, 1603).

In declinatione morbid To alleviate the disease. (Bacon).

Inescationes et lenocinia Baits and panderings. (Bacon, History of King Henry VII).

Infelix, utcunque ferent ea facta minores Unhappy man! Whatever judgment posterity shall pass upon that deed. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

In fine dierum At the end of the day. (Bacon).

In genere oeconomico On domestic grounds. (Bacon).

In genere politico On political grounds. (Bacon).

In hoc signo evince In this sign conquer. (Bacon, Touching an Holy war).

In nocte consilium At night take counsel. (Bacon).

In sudore vultus comedes panem tuum In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

In umbra Secluded. (Bacon).

Inæqualia Unequal; there is no colour for the assertion that to the wise man all things are unequal; but the Stoics, teaching that, except the distinction between right and wrong, everything is to the wise man a matter of indifference, went on to maintain that he could suffer no wrong from man, because no change of outward circumstance could in any degree affect his inward and essential happiness. There is a treatise by Seneca, of the title In Sapientem non cadere Injuriam, in which this doctrine is taught. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. VI).

Incensivos Exciting. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum XLIX).

Increpa eos durè Rebuke them sharply. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Infortunate This word was used sometimes for unfortunate. It occurs twice in Shakespeare; and Johnson has given an example from Bacon’s works.

Instantia crucis A series of observations was made by Dr. Whewell and Mr. Airy to determine the effect on the time of vibration of a pendulum, produced by carrying it to the bottom of a mine; but, from the effect of local attractions, the results were scarcely as satisfactory as might have been expected. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum XXXVI).

Insulas Cursolares Or Kurzolari islands are the ancient Echinades; the naval engagement generally called the Battle of Lepanto, took place off these islands in 1571; the Turkish fleet was defeated with great loss; and on this occasion that Cervantes lost his hand. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. VIII).

Intelligentia Angelic influence. (Bacon).

Interpretatio Interpretation. It is true that interpretation is the very natural and direct intention, action and progression to the understanding, delivered from impediments; and that all anticipation is but a deflexion or declination by accident. (Bacon, Val. Term). 1
For he that shall attentively observe how the mind doth gather this excellent dew of knowledge, like unto that which the poet speaketh of, distilling and contriving it out of particulars natural and artificial, as the flowers of the field and garden, shall find that the mind of herself by nature doth manage and act an induction much better than they describe it. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Inventione præocupatas Anticipated, so far as relates to originality of invention; one of Bacon’s antitheses between inventione and modis tractandi. (Bacon).

Invidia Discontentment; envy. (Bacon, Essays: IX).

Ipse repertorem medicinæ talis et artis fulmine phæbigenam stygias detrusit ad undas: Apollo’s son from whom that art did grow Jove struck with thunder to the shades below. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Isti ipsi præceptores virtutis et magistri videntur fines officiorum paulo longius quam natura vellet protulisse, ut cum ad ultimum animo contendissemus, ibi tamen, ubi oportet, consisteremus: That they had set the points of duty somewhat higher than nature would well bear; meaning belike to allow for shortcomings, and that our endeavours aiming beyond the mark and falling short, should light at the right place. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Iter pigrorum quasi sepes spinarum The way of the slothful is as an hedge of thorns. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).