“Of Love” by Francis Bacon (1561–1626)
- Love is best kept to the stage instead of real life
- It’s usually best for comedies but once in a while for tragedies
- Of all great men in history only Marcus Antonius & Appius Claudius were not able to keep love in check
- Epicurus said “We are each for one another a theater large enough.”
- As if man should only kneel before an idol & make himself subject for higher purposes
- It’s funny how the only appropriate time to speak in hyperbole in when you’re madly in love
- The only person who’s a greater flatterer than an egotist [who flatters himself] is a man in love
- No insanely vain person ever thought of himself in the way a man in love speaks of his loved one
- It’s impossible to be wise & be in love
- Everyone can see that except the one who reciprocates this love
- Love is either reciprocated or held in contempt, never ignored
- Men ought to beware of the passion of love, which is worse than other bad things
- Alexander/Paris fell afoul of the goddesses & turned down all glory & riches to be with Helen
- Passionate love floods in times of weakness
- It’s best to keep it in check because it can ruin you
- Military men are given to love just as they are to the bottle
- Perils are often paid in pleasures
- Being in love makes a man more humane & charitable towards others
- Nuptial love makes mankind
- Friendly love perfects it
- Wanton love corrupts it & abases it
