Of Truth by Francis Bacon Summary

‘Of Truth’ is a masterpiece essay by Francis Bacon, in which we can get a profound understanding about truth and its importance in all aspects of one’s life, distinguishing it from falsehood.

‘Of Truth’ is the opening essay in Francis Bacon’s final edition of essays named, “Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral” (1625).

Bacon attempts to address the people who are skeptical about the nature and benefits of truth and honesty, stressing the importance of embracing honesty as the basis of one’s uprightness.

Bacon, in “Of Truth”, discusses why truth and honesty are significant in one’s life. Bacon says that some people have a natural inclination towards the falsehood, a corrupt love of lie itself.

Bacon likens falsehood to a candlelight which is more attractive, whereas truth is like daylight which shows things as they really are, without illusions and any fancy decorations.

Though a mixture of falsehood and truth may give pleasure, falsehood is wickedness that can provoke God. Bacon wonders why a man is dare to defy God by following the ways of falsehood and why he is not dare to face his fellow humans by telling the truth.

Of Truth by Francis Bacon Line by Line Explanation

Let’s read the essay “Of Truth” by Francis Bacon line by line to understand why people have to pursue truth.

Pontius Pilate in Christ’s Crucifixion

“What is truth?” said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.

Bacon starts this essay “Of Truth” by citing an example from ancient Rome to emphasize the importance of embracing the truth. Bacon starts this essay “Of Truth” by citing an example from ancient Rome to emphasize the importance of embracing the truth.

Pontius Pilate, an ancient Roman governor, passed judgement on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, under the pressure of the crowd, without worrying about or patiently waiting for the revelation of truth.

Here, Bacon critiques Pilate’s erroneous decision without much worrying about the truth. If Pilate had the patience, he would have refrained from committing such a big mistake in history. According to Bacon, this incident stresses the importance of having a deeper understanding of the truth.

Commitment To A Particular Belief: A Bondage

Certainly, there be that delight in giddiness, and count it a bondage to fix a belief, affecting free-will in thinking as well as in acting.

Bacon indicates that there are people who consider it a bondage to committing to a particular belief. This belief, according to these people, would affect the autonomy not only in their thinking but also in actions. So, these people would never want to fix on a particular belief, but wish to have intellectual liberty.

Echoes of Ancient Thought

And though the sects of philosophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins, though there be not so much blood in them as was in those of the ancients.

Though the groups of ancient philosophers are no more, it’s noteworthy that there are people still today who think in a similar manner, though they may not be as influential as the ancient philosophers however.

Bacon’s Insight on Humanity’s Affinity for Lies

But it is not only the difficulty and labor which men take in finding out of truth, nor again that when it is found it imposeth upon men’s thoughts, that doth bring lies in favor, but a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself.

According to Bacon, people prefer and embrace lies not only because it is difficult to discover truth or the people have to face challenges that the truth puts forth to their thinking, but also because humans have a natural inclination towards embracing the lie because of an inherent love (corrupt love) for the lie itself.

The Love of Lies

One of the later school of the Grecians examineth the matter, and is at a stand to think what should be in it, that men should love lies where neither they make for pleasure, as with poets, nor for advantage, as with the merchant; but for the lie’s sake.

A Greek philosophical school took this topic for discussion on why some individuals have a natural tendency to love lies. Unlike poets who make lies for pleasure and entertainment or merchants who lie for personal advantage, this school of philosophy couldn’t come to a conclusion why some people prefer lie for lie’s sake.

Truth vs Falsehood

But I cannot tell: this same truth is a naked and open daylight that doth not show the masques and mummeries and triumphs of the world half so stately and daintily as candle-lights.

Bacon makes a beautiful comparison between truth and lie. Truth is like bright daylight that reveals things as they really are without illusions and any fancy decorations (the masques and mummeries), whereas the lie (the triumphs of the world) is like a candlelight which is more glamorous, attractive and impressive.

The Value of Truth

Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights.

Bacon goes on to explain why some individuals prefer lies over truth. Truth might be valuable and comparable to a pearl which looks best in daylight. Yet, it will never rise to the value of a diamond or carbuncle, which shine more impressively in different lights.

Diamond and carbuncle (the lies and illusions) shine brilliantly in various colourful lights, whereas the pearl (the truth) shines best only in daylight.

Mixture of Falsehood and Truth

A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure. Doth any man doubt that if there were taken out of men’s minds vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would leave the minds of a number of men poor shrunken things, full of melancholy and indisposition, and unpleasing to themselves?

Here Bacon suggests that a mixture of lie and truth often gives more pleasure. He then questions that whether anybody doubts that if people’s minds were stripped of flattering hopes, false valuations, and imaginations, the minds of a number of men would be left to suffer melancholy, lacking motivation, and uninspired to themselves.

The Intoxicating Power of Poetry

One of the fathers, in great severity, called poesy vinum daemonum [the wine of devils] because it filleth the imagination, and yet it is but with the shadow of a lie. But it is not the lie that passeth through the mind, but the lie that sinketh in and settleth in it that doth the hurt, such as we spake of before.

In these lines Bacon explains why one of the early Christian scholars referred to poetry as “the wine of devils” (vinum daemonum). It is because the poetry intoxicates the imagination, even though everyone is aware that it is based on falsehoods.

Merely passing lie never hurts the mind. But rather the lie that takes root in mind and stays there long, causing damage over time. Such lies are harmful intoxication to individuals.

Truth: The Sovereign Good of Human Nature

But howsoever these things are thus in men’s depraved judgments and affections, yet truth, which only doth judge itself, teacheth that the inquiry of truth, which is the love-making or wooing of it; the knowledge of truth, which is the presence of it; and the belief of truth, which is the enjoying of it, is the sovereign good of human nature.

Despite the people’s flawed judgement about the value of truth, it teaches us that seeking truth, understanding its value and believing in truth are the sovereign good for human race. So, truth is important for the welfare of human beings.

Divine Illumination: The Progression of Light in Creation

The first creature of God in the works of the days was the light of the sense; the last was the light of reason; and his Sabbath work ever since is the illumination of his spirit. First he breathed light upon the face of the matter, or chaos; then he breathed light into the face of man; and still he breatheth and inspireth light into the face of his chosen.

According to Bacon, the first creation of God was the light of the sense that allows us to perceive the world. And his Sabbath work (final creation) was the light of reason (the illumination of his spirit) which enables us to understand the world.

In other words, first God breathed light into the chaotic world, and then he brought light to human race. Ever since, God continues to inspire and bring illumination to the face of his chosen.

The Vantage Ground of Truth

The poet that beautified the sect that was otherwise inferior to the rest, saith yet excellently well, “It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed upon the sea; a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventures thereof below; but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of truth (a hill not to be commanded, and where the air is always clear and serene), and to see the errors and wanderings and mists and tempests in the vale below”; so always that this prospect be with pity, and not with swelling or pride.

In these lines of “Of Truth”, Bacon discusses how a poet praises the pleasure of watching different scenes, like standing upon the seashore and seeing ships tossed upon the sea or standing in the window of a castle and watching a battle. But the greatest pleasure is that, according to Bacon, standing upon the elevated ground of truth and seeing errors of those below.

Heaven upon Earth

Certainly it is heaven upon earth to have a man’s mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.

It is a beautiful experience to have one’s mind move towards charity / filled with love and goodwill towards others, to rest in the divine guidance, and trust on the benefits of truth is akin to heaven upon earth.

Falsehood is akin to a Serpent

To pass from theological and philosophical truth to the truth of civil business: it will be acknowledged, even by those that practice it not, that clear and round dealing is the honor of man’s nature, and that mixture of falsehood is like alloy in coin of gold and silver, which may make the metal work the better, but it embaseth it. For these winding and crooked courses are the goings of the serpent, which goeth basely upon the belly and not upon the feet.

In this passage, Bacon move from discussing theological and philosophical truth to the truth of everyday business. He declares that candid, open, honest and straightforward dealings are fundamental to human nobility, even to the people who don’t practice it.

A mixture of falsehood and truth is akin to the impurities added to precious metals (coin of gold and silver). Though they make them work and shine better, they ultimately degrades their value.

Dishonest and deceitful actions are compared to the movements of a serpent. A serpent slithers on its belly rather than walking on its foot. The comparison is made to describe that the deceitful and dishonourable actions are low much like the movements of a serpent close to the ground.

No Vice is like Falsehood

There is no vice that doth so cover a man with shame as to be found false and perfidious; and therefore Montaigne saith prettily, when he inquired the reason why the word of the lie should be such a disgrace and such an odious charge. Saith he, “If it be well weighed, to say that a man lieth, is as much as to say that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards man.” For a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.

In these lines of “Of Truth”, Bacon discusses how much it is shameful for a man who is discovered to be false and deceitful. No vice is as shameful as being discovered false and perfidious.

Montaigne explains this act in a simple way: a liar dares to defy God but he is coward in front of people. If one dares to defy God by telling lies, why he dares not to face fellow humans by telling the truth.

Falsehood is Wickedness

Surely the wickedness of falsehood and breach of faith cannot possibly be so highly expressed as in that it shall be the last peal to call the judgments of God upon the generations of men: it being foretold that when Christ cometh, “He shall not find faith upon the earth.”

Falsehood is wickedness and it is a serious sin that provokes God (it shall be the last peal to call the judgments of God upon the generations of men).

“Of Truth” concludes with a prophecy about the return of Christ. When he comes back, he will find falsehood and unfaithfulness widespread everywhere on the earth.

FAQs: People Also Ask

Q: What is the main THEME of “Of Truth” by Francis Bacon?

The main theme of”Of Truth” by Francis Bacon is the importance and value of truth in human life. Bacon insists the importance of truth in personal conduct as well as in the pursuit of knowledge.

Bacon strongly believes that truth can lead to clarity of thought and understanding. In addition to this, he also discusses the consequences falsehood and deception. Falsehood is detrimental in nature and it will create a negative impact on individuals and the society.

The readers can understand the timeless relevance of truth as a guiding principle of in all human affairs.

Q: What is the writing style of Francis Bacon in ‘Of Truth’?

The writing style of Francis Bacon in ‘Of Truth’ is aphoristic. Bacon never includes his own life experience and observation of truth. As a result, his essays are impersonal.

In aphoristic style, the statements are concise but impactful and memorable like a maxim. Aphorisms are employed by writers to capture universal truth, observation about human nature or philosophical concept in a memorable manner.

In this essay ‘Of Truth’, if you look at the opening lines, ‘“What is truth?” said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer’, the readers are able to bring into mind immediately the incident of Jesus Christ’s trial, when Pilate was not serious about Jesus Christ’s claim that he had come bring truth into the world.

Q: What are the important quotes in Of Truth by Francis Bacon?

There are several important quotes in Of Truth by Francis Bacon. We have selected some of the important quotes:

1) Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights.

2) A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure.

3) It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed upon the sea; a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventures thereof below; but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of truth, and to see the errors and wanderings and mists and tempests in the vale below.

4) There is no vice that doth so cover a man with shame as to be found false and perfidious.

5) “If it be well weighed, to say that a man lieth, is as much as to say that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards man.” For a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.

Q: When was Francis Bacon’s essay of truth first published?

‘Of Truth’ was first published in 1625 as the opening essay in Francis Bacon’s “Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral”. This edition consists of 58 essays, which includes the essays published in the previous editions of Francis Bacon’s essays published in 1597 and 1612.

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon was an essayist, philosopher and statesman, born in 1561, London. He also served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of King James I.

Bacon is known as the father of empiricism. He died of pneumonia in 1626 and was buried at St Michael’s Church, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Bacon’s famous work ‘The Advancement of Learning’, a pioneering work in support of empirical philosophy, published in 1605.

Bacon’s 1st edition of essays published in 1597 contained only 10 essays. His 2nd edition published in 1612 contained 38 essays. And the final edition of essays published in 1625 consisting 58 essays.

Of Truth by Francis Bacon Summary