That which is past is gone, and irrevocable; and wise men have enough to do, with things present and to come; therefore they do but trifle with themselves, that labor in past matters.
Where these words come from
- Lots of sources credit Francis Bacon with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
- https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/575/pg575-images.html
More from Francis Bacon
See allReading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.
Francis BaconHistories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.Francis BaconProsperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.Francis BaconFor friendship maketh indeed a fair day in the affections, from storm and tempests; but it maketh daylight in the understanding, out of darkness, and confusion of thoughts.Francis BaconFor a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.Francis BaconTruth is not to be sought in the good fortune of any particular conjuncture of time, which is uncertain, but in the light of nature and experience, which is eternal.Francis Bacon
Francis BaconHistories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.Francis BaconProsperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.Francis BaconFor friendship maketh indeed a fair day in the affections, from storm and tempests; but it maketh daylight in the understanding, out of darkness, and confusion of thoughts.Francis BaconFor a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.Francis BaconTruth is not to be sought in the good fortune of any particular conjuncture of time, which is uncertain, but in the light of nature and experience, which is eternal.Francis BaconMore on wisdom
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Sun TzuThe wound is the place where the light enters you.
RumiYou have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Marcus AureliusWaste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.Marcus AureliusAn unexamined life is not worth living.
SocratesWonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.
Plato
Sun TzuThe wound is the place where the light enters you.RumiYou have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.Marcus AureliusWaste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.Marcus AureliusAn unexamined life is not worth living.SocratesWonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.Plato