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

N (English)

Names of the days Of the origin is given by Dio Cassius, XXXVII. c. 21. He also gives another which is free from an objection which has been alleged against the first; namely that the names are older than the division of the day into twenty-four hours. It is that the successive days were assigned to the respective planets, which are fourth in order from each other, from some notion of analogy in the divine harmony to a musical progression by fourths. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. III).

Names of Winds Let the general division of the winds be as follows: Cardinal winds, which blow from the cardinal points of heaven; Semi cardinal, which blow half way between those points; and Median, which blow intermediate between these again.  And of these Median winds let those be called the Greater Medians, which blow half way between the Cardinal and Semi-cardinal, and the rest the Lesser Medians. (Bacon, History of Winds).
There are also other ancient names for winds, as Apeliotes the East wind, Argestes the West-North-West, Olympias and Scyron the North-West, Helles-pontius the East-North-East, and Iapyx the West-North-West, but I do not dwell upon them. (Bacon, History of Winds). [Also see Accidental generations of winds; Attendant Winds; Extraordinary Winds and Sudden Gusts]

Natural magic Has the same kind of effect on men as some soporific drugs, which not only lull to sleep, but also during sleep instil gentle and pleasing dreams. (Bacon, De Aug., 1622).
As for that natural magic whereof now there is mention in books, containing certain credulous and superstitious conceits and observations of Sympathies and Antipathies, and hidden proprieties, and some frivolous experiments, strange rather by disguisement than in themselves, it is as far differing in truth of nature from such a knowledge as we require, as the story of King Arthur of Britain, or Hugh of Bordeaux, differs from Cæsar’s Commentaries. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Nature The instinct of the universe. Nature is only conquered by obeying her. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).
When a carver makes an image he shapes only that part whereupon he worketh; as, if he be upon the face, that part which shall be the body is but a rude stone still, till such times as he comes to it; but contrariwise, when Nature makes a flower or a living creature, she formeth rudiments to all the parts at one time. So in obtaining virtue by habits or (by application) to good ends. (Bacon, Adv. Bk. II).
Things of a contrary nature are placed apart, for everything delights to repel that which is disagreeable. (Bacon, De Aug. Bk. VI. Soph).
As to the body of man, we find many and strange experiences how nature is overwrought by custom, even in actions that seem of most difficulty, and least possible. (Bacon, Discourse Touching Helps for the Intellectual Powers).

Nature of man Is excellently explained by Francis Bacon as follows:

Nature is often hidden; sometimes overcome; seldom extinguished. Force maketh nature more violent in the return; doctrine and discourse maketh nature less importune; but custom only doth alter and subdue nature. He that seeketh victory over his nature, let him not set himself too great nor too small tasks; for the first will make him dejected by often failings; and the second will make him a small proceeder, though by often prevailings. And at the first let him practise with helps, as swimmers do with bladders or rushes; but after a time let him practise with disadvantages, as dancers do with thick shoes. For it breeds great perfection, if the practice be harder than the use. Where nature is mighty, and therefore the victory hard, the degrees had need be, first to stay and arrest nature in time; like to him that would say over the four and twenty letters when he was angry; then to go less in quantity; as if one should, in forbearing wine, come from drinking healths to a draught at a meal; and lastly, to discontinue altogether. But if a man have the fortitude and resolution to enfranchise himself at once, that is the best: Optimus ille animi vindex lædentia pectus Vincula qui rupit, dedoluitque semel. [Wouldst thou be free? The chains that gall thy breast With one strong effort burst, and be at rest.] Neither is the ancient rule amiss, to bend nature as a wand to a contrary extreme, whereby to set it right; understanding it, where the contrary extreme is no vice. Let not a man force a habit upon himself with perpetual continuance, but with some intermission. For both the pause reinforceth the new onset; and if a man that is not perfect be ever in practice, he shall as well practise his errors his abilities, and induce one habit of both; and there is no means to help this but by seasonable intermissions. But let not a man trust his victory over his nature too far; for nature will lay buried a great time, and yet revive upon the occasion or temptation. Like as it was with Æsop’s damsel, turned from a cat to a woman, who sat very demurely at the board’s end, till a mouse ran before her. Therefore let a man either avoid the occasion altogether; or put himself often to it, that he may be little moved with it. A man’s nature is best perceived in privateness, for there is no affectation; in passion, for that putteth a man out of his precepts; and in a new case or experiment, for there custom leaveth him. They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations; otherwise they may say, multum incola fuit anima mea, [my soul hath been a stranger and a so journer;] when they converse in those things they do not affect. In studies, whatsoever a man commandeth upon himself, let him set hours for it; but whatsoever is agreeable to his nature, let him take no care for any set times; for his thoughts will fly to it of themselves; so as the spaces of other business or studies will suffice. A man’s nature runs either to herbs or weeds; therefore let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other. (Bacon, Essay: Of Nature In Men).

Nature of woman Fortune has somewhat of the nature of a woman, who, if she be too much wooed, is commonly the farther off. (Bacon, Adv., 1603–05).

Near band Closely; without acting or waiting at a distance.
The entring near band into the manner of performance of that which is under deliberation, hath overturned the opinion of the possibility or imposibility. (Bacon, Holy War).

Necessity Evils inform or shape the mind or correct passion by the application of necessity, or by causing a man to come to himself. (Bacon, Promus 1449).
Necessity makes the old woman trot. (Bacon, Promus 1595).
Necessity, and the casting of the die (by forming a resolution) is a spur to the courage: as one says, “Being a match for them in the rest, your necessity makes you superior.” (Bacon, De Aug. Bk. VI. Soph).

Never bred nor fed A comment found in a commonplace book of Dr. Rawley’s in the Lambeth Museum: “He said he had breeding swans and feeding swans; but for malice, he neither bred it nor fed it.” [Also see Chapter entitled The Life of the Right Honourable Francis Bacon.]

New Things old to us were new to men of old. (Bacon, Promus 1268).

New star Galileo in 1604 showed from the absence of parallax, that the new star could not be, as the vulgar hypothesis represented, a mere meteor engendered in our atmosphere and nearer the earth than the moon, but must be situated among the most remote heavenly bodies. (Bacon, Descriptio Globi Intellectualis & L.U.K). 1
A new star was observed in Cassiopeia by Cornelius Gemma and Tycho Brahe in 1572; it disappeared in 1574. The star in Ophiuchus was observed by Kepler in 1604, and disappeared about the end of 1605.

No labour After the creation was finished, it is said that man was placed in the garden to work therein; which work could only be work of contemplation; that is, the end of his work was but for exercise and delight, and not for necessity. For there being then no reluctance of the creature, nor sweat of the brow, man’s employment was consequently matter of pleasure, not labour. (Bacon, Adv).

No more to conquer No more worlds. (Bacon, Apo).

No wise speech, though easy and valuable. (Bacon, Col. Good & Evil).

Nobility They whose virtue is in the stock cannot be bad even if they would. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. VI. Antitheta).

Northumberland Manuscript 1867 there was discovered in the library of Northumberland House, in London, a remarkable manuscript containing copies of several papers written by Francis Bacon. It was found in a box of old papers which had long remained undisturbed. There is a title page, which embraces a table of contents of the volume, and this contains not only the names of writing unquestionably Bacon’s, but also the names of plays which are supposed to have been written by Shakespeare. But only part of the manuscript volume remains, and the portions lost embrace the following pieces enumerated on the title-leaf:

Orations at Graie’s Inns revels
…Queen’s Mats…
By Mr. Frauncis Bacon
Essaies by the same author.
Richard the Second.
Richard the Third.
Asmund and Cornelia.
Isle of Dogs frmnt.
By Thomas Nashe, inferior places.

How comes it that the Shakespeare plays, Richard II., and Richard III., should be mixed up in a volume of Bacon’s manuscripts with his own letters and essays and a mask written by him in 1592? Parker Woodward in Tudor Problems, 1912, says: “They were printed between August, 1597, and March 25, 1597–98, anonymously. Francis Bacon, many years later replying to Oliver St. John, indicated that someone else was responsible for bringing the play of Richard II., on the stage and into print in Queen Elizabeth’s time. We know from Raleigh’s letter to Robert Cecil of July 6, 1597, that Essex had very much upon his mind the notion of deposing the Queen and establishing a Regency. It is fair to assume that he brought pressure upon Francis to have the play printed. Whether or not it had been staged before, there is certainly some reasonable ground for surmising that it was one of the two plays performed before Essex’s personal friends and Catholic adherents assembled in force at Essex House on February 14, 1597–98. Cecil and Raleigh were away in France at that date, and Essex was in full charge of the Government.” [See Part III., on this subject.]

Nothing has so many names as love; for it is a thing either so foolish that it does not know itself, or so foul that it hides itself with paint.(Bacon, De Aug).

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. (Bacon, Col. Good & Evil).

Nothing is to be feared except fear itself. (Bacon, De Aug).

Nova Zembla Barents’ expedition in search of a Northeast passage and passed the winter of 1596–97 at Nova Zembla. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum XII). [Also see Part II: Barents William.]

Novelty Things novel are better than things customary. (Bacon, Promus 1269 of the Latin).
There is scarcely any one but takes more delight in what he hopes for than in what he has. Novelty is very pleasing to a man and is easily sought after. (Bacon, De Aug., Bk. VIII).

Novitious Of modern origin.

Number of middle terms To be more or fewer. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

N (Latin)

Nam qui erranti comiter monstrat viam To put the wanderer in the right way. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Naturæ minister Servant of nature; that the physician is a servant of nature is quoted more than once from Hippocrates. (Bacon).

Naturæ notas Fixed in the nature of things. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum XLV).

Naturam abstrahere To resolve nature into abstractions. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismi, LI).

Naturam naturantem God considered as the causa immanens of the universe, and therefore, according to the latter at least, not hypostatically distinct from it. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum I).

Naturam secare To dissect nature into her constituent parts. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismi, LI).

Ne glorieris de crastino, nescis partum diei Boast not thyself of tomorrow, thou knowest not what the day may bring forth. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Nec sum animi dubius, verbis ea vincere magnum quam sit, et angustis his addere rubus honorem: How hard the task alas full well I know with charm of words to grace a theme so low. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam It is needful that I go, not that I live. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Nemine dissentiente With none dissenting. (Bacon).

Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo And Apollo does not keep his bow always bent. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Nescio quid I know not what. In a letter to Anthony, the brother of Francis Bacon, under date of May 24, 1592 Lady Anne Bacon (the mother) expresses her solicitude, as follows: “I verily think your brother’s weak stomach to digest hath been much caused and confirmed by untimely going to bed, and then musing nescio quid when he should sleep.”

Nii sacri es You are no divinity. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Nil aliud quàm bene ausus vana contemnere It was but taking courage to despise vain apprehensions. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Nil novi super terram There is no new thing under the sun. (Ecclesiastes. I. 9.; Bacon, De Aug., Bk. I; Adv., Bk. I).

Nil tam metuens, quàm ne dubitare aliqua de re videretur Who feared nothing so much as the seeming to be in doubt about anything. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Nisi quid potius Failing some better chance. (Bacon).

Nocet illis eloquentia, quibus non rerum cupiditatem facit, sed sui: Eloquence does mischief when it draws men’s attention away from the matter to fix it on itself. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Non ad vetera instituta revocans quæ jampridem corruptis moribus ludibrio sunt: Not to attempt to bring things back to the original institution, now that by reason of the corruption of manners the ancient simplicity and purity had fallen into contempt. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum: Thy steps shall not be straightened; thou shalt run and not stumble. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Non canimus surdis, respondent omnia sylvæ All as we sing the listening woods reply. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Non credo I don’t believe it. (Bacon).

Non in aqua tantum, sed in aqua et sanguine Not merely in water, but in water and blood. (Bacon).

Non ita disputandi causa, sed ita vivendi Not that he might talk like a philosopher, but that he might live like one. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Non prius laudes contempsimus, quam laudanda facere desivimus Men hardly despise praise till they have ceased to deserve it. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus: The fool will not listen to the words of the wise, unless you first tell him what is in his own heart. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II.; Proverbs, XVIII., 2).
A fool hath no delight in understanding but that his heart may discover itself. (Bacon, Promus).

Non Rex sum, sed Cæsar I am not King, but Cæsar. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).

Non sufficiebat respirationi It was insufficient for the cooling of the blood, which according to Aristotle was the end of respiration. (Bacon, Nov. Org., Aphorismorum XII).

Non uti ut non appetas, non appetere ut non metuas, sunt animi pusilli et diffidentis: To abstain from the use of a thing that you may not feel a want of it; to shun the want that you may not fear the loss of it; are the precautions of pusillanimity and cowardice. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).
I cannot choose but weep to have that which I fear to lose. (Shakespeare, Sonnet 64).

Nosque ubi primus equis oriens afflavit anhelis, illic sera rubens accendit lumina vesper: And while on us the fresh east breathes form far, for them the red west lights her evening star. (Bacon, Adv., Bk. II).

Nova continente spiraverit Bacon refers to what Peter Martyr Anghiera has related, that Columbus observing the west winds which blow at certain times of the year on the coast of Portugal, came to the conclusion that there must be land to generate them. (Bacon, Nov. Org).

Nubecula est, cito transibit It is merely a dark spot which will speedily pass. (Bacon, Apologie, 1603).
Nudam sine veste Dianam Diana naked, without her clothes. (Bacon).

Nulli negabimus, nulli differemus justitiam We will neither deny nor postpone justice for any. (Bacon).

Nunquid conjungere valebis micantes stellas Pleiadas, aut gyrum Arcturi poteris dissipare? Cans’t thou bring together the glittering stars of the Pleiades, or scatter the array of Arcturus? (Bacon, Adv., Bk. I).