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I would by all means have men beware, lest Æsop's pretty…

“I would by all means have men beware, lest Æsop's pretty fable of the fly that sate [sic] on the pole of a chariot at the Olympic races and said, 'What a dust do I raise,' be verified in them. For so it is that some small observation, and that disturbed sometimes by the instrument, sometimes by…” quote by Francis Bacon
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“I would by all means have men beware, lest Æsop's pretty fable of the fly that sate [sic] on the pole of a chariot at the Olympic races and said, 'What a dust do I raise,' be verified in them. For so it is that some small observation, and that disturbed sometimes by the instrument, sometimes by the eye, sometimes by the calculation, and which may be owing to some real change in the heaven, raises new heavens and new spheres and circles.”

Francis Bacon

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He warns that small observations can trigger profound shifts in understanding, reshaping knowledge.

In simple terms: Small observations can change everything.

Key Takeaway

Observe closely for breakthroughs.

Themes

science observation paradigm shift

Mood

analytical inquisitive

Type

scientific philosophical

When to use this quote

  • research
  • innovation
  • education
  • policy making

Key Concepts

empiricism epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What tiny detail could revolutionize your field?
  • How do you balance observation with theory?
A Different Perspective

May overstate impact of minor data.

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