--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The noblest works and foundations have…" description: "\"“The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the image of their minds, where those of their bodie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/francis-bacon-297_psychology_the-noblest-works-and-foundations-have-p_1388683.jpg" --- # The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from… ![“The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the image of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed. So the care of posterity is most in them that they have no posterity.” quote by Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/francis-bacon-297_psychology_the-noblest-works-and-foundations-have-p_1388683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/francis-bacon-297_psychology_the-noblest-works-and-foundations-have-p_1388683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/francis-bacon-297_psychology_the-noblest-works-and-foundations-have-p_1388683.jpg) > ““The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the image of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed. So the care of posterity is most in them that they have no posterity.”” [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. Creative legacy can be achieved through ideas and works, not just biological descendants; intellectual posterity matters. **In simple terms:** Ideas outlive bodies. Key Takeaway Focus on lasting contributions. Themes legacy intellectualism creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - artistic creation - entrepreneurial ventures - family planning discussions Key Concepts philosophy humanism future impact Questions to Reflect On - What lasting work will you leave? - How do ideas become tangible? A Different Perspective Ideas alone may not sustain societies without practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care Posterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-posterity-4681019/) [Childless Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childless-men-2598122/) [Noblest Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noblest-works-1651216/) [Posterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posterity/) [Posterity Posterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posterity-posterity-4190816/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/why-should-i-care-about-posterity-what-s-posterity-ever-done-for-me/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the images of their minds where those of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-noblest-works-and-foundations-have-proceeded-from-childless-men/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Why should we put ourselves out of our way to do anything for posterity? For what has posterity ever done for us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyle-roche/why-should-we-put-ourselves-out-of-our-way-to-do-anything-for/) [Boyle Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyle-roche/) > [What artists call posterity is the posterity of the work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/what-artists-call-posterity-is-the-posterity-of-the-work-of-art/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/certainly-the-best-works-and-of-greatest-merit-for-the-public-have/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Children sweeten labours. But they make misfortune more bitter. They increase the care of life. But they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/children-sweeten-labours-but-they-make-misfortune-more-bitter-they/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune, for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/he-that-hath-wife-and-children-hath-given-hostages-to-fortune-for/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The noblest works of human art and pride show that their makers were not satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-abbey/the-noblest-works-of-human-art-and-pride-show-that-their-makers-were/) [Henry Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-abbey/) > [Human beings seem to be a poor invention. If they are the noblest works of God where is the ignoblest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/human-beings-seem-to-be-a-poor-invention-if-they-are-the-noblest/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The way to acquire lasting esteem is not by the fewness of a writer's faults, but the greatness of his beauties, and our noblest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-way-to-acquire-lasting-esteem-is-not-by-the-fewness-of-a-writer-s/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity - Posterity has done nothing for us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/few-can-be-induced-to-labor-exclusively-for-posterity-posterity-has/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“And so my thoughts have lead me to believe that childless men and women lead lives more fortunate than those with sons and daughters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/and-so-my-thoughts-have-lead-me-to-believe-that-childless-men-and/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“If you want to know what's in motherhood for you, as a woman, then - in truth - it's nothing you couldn't get from,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/if-you-want-to-know-what-s-in-motherhood-for-you-as-a-woman-then-in/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [I work for posterity, these things requiring ages for their accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-work-for-posterity-these-things-requiring-ages-for-their/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [All artists are vain, they long to be recognized and to leave something to posterity. They want to be loved, and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/all-artists-are-vain-they-long-to-be-recognized-and-to-leave/) [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 Posterity quotes > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/we-are-always-doing-something-for-posterity-but-i-would-fain-see/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [You have power over my body but the Lord Jesus hath power over my body and soul; and assure yourselves thus much, you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hutchinson/you-have-power-over-my-body-but-the-lord-jesus-hath-power-over-my/) [Anne Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hutchinson/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“Et peut-être la posterité me saura gré de lui avoir fait connaître que les Anciens n’ont pas tout su. ( And perhaps, posterity will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/et-peut-tre-la-posterit-me-saura-gr-de-lui-avoir-fait-conna-tre-que/) [Pierre De Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [May posterity show mercy when it look back upon the work we do today. We did what we could with what we had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/may-posterity-show-mercy-when-it-look-back-upon-the-work-we-do-today/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/crouch-down-and-lick-the-hands-which-feed-you-may-your-chains-sit/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/convinced-that-the-republican-is-the-only-form-of-government-which-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-principle-office-of-history-i-take-to-be-this-to-prevent-virtuous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are many points in the history of an invention which the inventor himself is apt to overlook as trifling, but in which posterity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brewster/there-are-many-points-in-the-history-of-an-invention-which-the/) [David Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brewster/) > [Nearly all literature, in one sense, is made up of guide-books. Old ones tell us the ways our fathers went, through the thoroughfares and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/nearly-all-literature-in-one-sense-is-made-up-of-guide-books-old-ones/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/and-you-will-by-the-dignity-of-your-conduct-afford-occasion-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Posterity will one day laugh at the sublime foolishness of the modern materialistic philosophy. The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/posterity-will-one-day-laugh-at-the-sublime-foolishness-of-the-modern/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Usually what goes through my mind before I hit the tweet button is, did I misspell or mis-grammatize anything, but also, is this worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/usually-what-goes-through-my-mind-before-i-hit-the-tweet-button-is/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) [Browse all 446 Posterity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posterity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the image of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed. 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