--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The human understanding is no dry light…" description: "\"The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an infusion from the will and affections... What a man had rather were true he more readily belie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/francis-bacon-297_affection_the-human-understanding-is-no-dry-light_2559830.jpg" --- # The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an… ![“The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an infusion from the will and affections... What a man had rather were true he more readily believes.” quote by Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/francis-bacon-297_affection_the-human-understanding-is-no-dry-light_2559830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/francis-bacon-297_affection_the-human-understanding-is-no-dry-light_2559830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/francis-bacon-297_affection_the-human-understanding-is-no-dry-light_2559830.jpg) > “The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an infusion from the will and affections... What a man had rather were true he more readily believes.” [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. Understanding is shaped by will and emotions; people more readily accept ideas that align with their desires. **In simple terms:** Beliefs are influenced by desire. Key Takeaway Question your motives. Themes philosophy psychology knowledge Mood contemplative analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal reflection - education - decision making - critical thinking Key Concepts cognitive bias motivation epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Do your desires shape your conclusions? - How can you seek unbiased understanding? A Different Perspective Desire can cloud objective truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Affections Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affections-man-1595554/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Dry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dry/) [Human Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-understanding-456116/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Infusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infusion/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Man U](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-u/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Readily Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readily-believes-1595553/) [True Readily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-readily-1595555/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [For what a man would like to be true, that he more readily believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/for-what-a-man-would-like-to-be-true-that-he-more-readily-believes/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding is of its own nature prone to suppose the existence of more order and regularity in the world than it finds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-is-of-its-own-nature-prone-to-suppose-the/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The Idols of Tribe have their foundation in human nature itself, and in the tribe or race of men. For it is a false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-idols-of-tribe-have-their-foundation-in-human-nature-itself-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“With chaste affections man and wife In solemn wedlock it entwines. Love’s laws most trusty comrades bind. How happy is the human race, 30…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius/with-chaste-affections-man-and-wife-in-solemn-wedlock-it-entwines/) [Boethius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius/) > [“The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; whence proceeds sciences which may be called "sciences as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-human-understanding-is-no-dry-light-but-receives-infusion-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We've surpassed ourselves now, we're exploring terrain beyond the limits of merely human understanding. Sometimes its contours, even in conventional space, are just too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-watts/we-ve-surpassed-ourselves-now-we-re-exploring-terrain-beyond-the/) [Peter Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-watts/) > [Why should not every individual man have existed more than once upon this world? Why should I not come back as often as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/why-should-not-every-individual-man-have-existed-more-than-once-upon/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [“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 like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-is-like-a-false-mirror-which-receiving-rays/) [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/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding is moved by those things most which strike and enter the mind simultaneously and suddenly, and so fill the imagination; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-is-moved-by-those-things-most-which-strike/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The human understanding of its own nature is prone to suppose the existence of more order and regularity in the world than it finds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-of-its-own-nature-is-prone-to-suppose-the/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-is-the-peculiar-and-perpetual-error-of-the-human-understanding-to/) [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/) ## 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. But it was vanity that made me choose painting, vanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-should-have-been-i-don-t-know-a-con-man-a-robber-or-a-prostitute/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Wounds cannot be cured without searching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/wounds-cannot-be-cured-without-searching/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-french-are-wiser-than-they-seem-and-the-spaniards-seem-wiser-than/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/when-a-man-laughs-at-his-troubles-he-loses-a-great-many-friends-they/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as a kind of common property which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/believing-that-i-was-born-for-the-service-of-mankind-and-regarding/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) [Explore all 711 Francis Bacon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Georgia O’Keeffe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, “from the faraway nearby.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/georgia-o-keeffe-moved-to-rural-new-mexico-from-which-she-would-sign/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) [Browse all 2,465 Affection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an infusion from the will and affections... 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