--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the peculiar and perpetual error of…" description: "\"“It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives.”\" — Francis Bacon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francis-bacon-297_errors_it-is-the-peculiar-and-perpetual-error-o_763553.jpg" --- # It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human… ![“It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives.” quote by Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francis-bacon-297_errors_it-is-the-peculiar-and-perpetual-error-o_763553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francis-bacon-297_errors_it-is-the-peculiar-and-perpetual-error-o_763553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francis-bacon-297_errors_it-is-the-peculiar-and-perpetual-error-o_763553.jpg) > ““It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives.”” [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Human minds react stronger to positive statements than to negative ones, often overlooking the latter’s importance. **In simple terms:** People focus more on affirmatives than negatives. Key Takeaway Pay attention to what is not said. Themes cognition bias communication Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - debates - marketing - personal relationships - critical thinking Key Concepts psychology logic language Questions to Reflect On - How might you reframe negatives to gain insight? - What risks arise from ignoring negative information? A Different Perspective Negatives can be equally informative but are ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“...it is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human intellect to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives; whereas it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-is-the-peculiar-and-perpetual-error-of-the-human-intellect-to-be/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding, from its peculiar nature, easily supposes a greater degree of order and equality in things than it really finds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-from-its-peculiar-nature-easily-supposes-a/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or as being agreeable to itself) draws all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-when-it-has-once-adopted-an-opinion-either-as-2/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“The eye of the human understanding is not a naked organ of perception (lumen siccum), but an eye imbued with moisture by Will and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-eye-of-the-human-understanding-is-not-a-naked-organ-of-perception/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [But by far the greatest hindrance and aberration of the human understanding proceeds from the dullness, incompetency, and deceptions of the senses; in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/but-by-far-the-greatest-hindrance-and-aberration-of-the-human/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an infusion from the will and affections... 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Therefore it is that we cannot conceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-is-unquiet-it-cannot-stop-or-rest-and-still/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Every error in human conduct must arise from ignorance in ourselves, either perpetual or temporary; and happen either because we do not know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-error-in-human-conduct-must-arise-from-ignorance-in-ourselves/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Francis Bacon > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The best preservative to keep the mind in health is the faithful admonition of a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-best-preservative-to-keep-the-mind-in-health-is-the-faithful/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/since-custom-is-the-principal-magistrate-of-man-s-life-let-men-by-all/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Painting today is pure intuition and luck and taking advantage of what happens when you splash the stuff down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/painting-today-is-pure-intuition-and-luck-and-taking-advantage-of/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/much-bending-breaks-the-bow-much-unbending-the-mind/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [When Christ came into the world, peace was sung; and when He went out of the world, peace was bequeathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/when-christ-came-into-the-world-peace-was-sung-and-when-he-went-out/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [...neither is it possible to discover the more remote and deeper parts of any science, if you stand but upon the level of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/neither-is-it-possible-to-discover-the-more-remote-and-deeper-parts/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The divisions of science are not like different lines that meet in one angle, but rather like the branches of trees that join in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-divisions-of-science-are-not-like-different-lines-that-meet-in/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding, when any preposition has been once laid down... forces everything else to add fresh support and confirmation; and although more cogent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-when-any-preposition-has-been-once-laid-down/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I should have been, I don't know, a con-man, a robber or a prostitute. 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