--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First, by the figurations of art there be…" description: "\"First, by the figurations of art there be made instruments of navigation without men to row them, as great ships to brooke the sea, only with one man t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/roger-bacon-15067_air_first-by-the-figurations-of-art-there-be_1748626.jpg" --- # First, by the figurations of art there be made instruments… ![“First, by the figurations of art there be made instruments of navigation without men to row them, as great ships to brooke the sea, only with one man to steer them, and they shall sail far more swiftly than if they were full of men; also chariots that shall move with unspeakable force without any…” quote by Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/roger-bacon-15067_air_first-by-the-figurations-of-art-there-be_1748626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/roger-bacon-15067_air_first-by-the-figurations-of-art-there-be_1748626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb1/roger-bacon-15067_air_first-by-the-figurations-of-art-there-be_1748626.jpg) > “First, by the figurations of art there be made instruments of navigation without men to row them, as great ships to brooke the sea, only with one man to steer them, and they shall sail far more swiftly than if they were full of men; also chariots that shall move with unspeakable force without any living creature to stir them. Likewise an instrument may be made to fly withall if one sits in the midst of the instrument, and do turn an engine, by which the wings, being artificially composed, may beat the air after the manner of a flying bird.” [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage envisions autonomous machines and vehicles powered by human control, foreshadowing modern technology like self‑steering ships and aircraft. **In simple terms:** Human‑controlled machines can navigate without crews. Key Takeaway Develop autonomous tech with human oversight. Themes innovation technology automation Mood visionary inquisitive Type speculative technological When to use this quote - maritime travel - aircraft design - engineering - future tech Key Concepts autonomous navigation human‑machine interface Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure safety in autonomous systems? - What role should humans play in future machines? A Different Perspective Reliance on human control may limit full autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Chariots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chariots/) [Chariots Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chariots-shall-1585360/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Instruments Navigation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments-navigation-1585361/) [Living creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-creatures/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Chariots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-chariots-1585359/) [Midst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midst/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Navigation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navigation/) [Navigation Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navigation-men-1585362/) [One man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-man/) [Predictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictions/) [Sail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sail/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) [Steers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steers/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Unspeakable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unspeakable/) [Wings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wings/) ## Related quotes > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In practical terms the South Pointing Chariot was a simple direction finder. It could have been made to point in any direction - north,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/in-practical-terms-the-south-pointing-chariot-was-a-simple-direction/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [The stifled hum of midnight, when traffic has lain down to rest, and the chariot wheels of Vanity, still rolling here and there through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-stifled-hum-of-midnight-when-traffic-has-lain-down-to-rest-and/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Tyson," I said "We're turning around!" Going the wrong way?" he asked. Always," I grumbled, but I steered the chariot towards the stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/tyson-i-said-we-re-turning-around-going-the-wrong-way-he-asked-always/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Leo: Rainbows. Very macho. Annabeth: Butch is our best equestrian, he gets along great with the pegasi. Leo: Rainbows, ponies... Butch: I'm gonna toss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-rainbows-very-macho-annabeth-butch-is-our-best-equestrian-he-gets/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-two-angels-were-to-receive-at-the-same-moment-a-commission-from/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The aquilegia sprinkled on the rocks A scarlet rain; the yellow violet Sat in the chariot of its leaves, the phlox Held spikes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/the-aquilegia-sprinkled-on-the-rocks-a-scarlet-rain-the-yellow-violet/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [Genius scorns the power of gold: it is wrong. Gold is the war-scythe on its chariot, which mows down the millions of its foes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/genius-scorns-the-power-of-gold-it-is-wrong-gold-is-the-war-scythe-on/) [Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/) > [The chariot was purchased by a private collector who took it home to New York. I take pleasure in knowing that it was built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/the-chariot-was-purchased-by-a-private-collector-who-took-it-home-to/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [I started by looking at what others had done before me. You see, over the years there have been attempts by many different people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/i-started-by-looking-at-what-others-had-done-before-me-you-see-over/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [Know thou the self (spirit) as riding in a chariot, The body as the chariot. 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The pieces of a chariot are useless unless the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-honor-can-there-be-without-humility-what-heights-can-be-reached/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The rabbit is significant in that the handle on the original South Pointing Chariot was carved in the form of a rabbit. Because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/the-rabbit-is-significant-in-that-the-handle-on-the-original-south/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) ## More by Roger Bacon > [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/knowledge-of-languages-is-the-doorway-to-wisdom/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [It is not necessarily impossible for human beings to fly, but it so happens that God did not give them the knowledge of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/it-is-not-necessarily-impossible-for-human-beings-to-fly-but-it-so/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [“Now there are four chief obstacles in grasping truth, which hinder every man, however learned, and scarcely allow anyone to win a clear title…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/now-there-are-four-chief-obstacles-in-grasping-truth-which-hinder/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [There are four great sciences, without which the other sciences cannot be known nor a knowledge of things secured ... Of these sciences the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/there-are-four-great-sciences-without-which-the-other-sciences-cannot/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [There are in fact four very significant stumbling blocks in the way of grasping the truth, which hinder every man however learned, and scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/there-are-in-fact-four-very-significant-stumbling-blocks-in-the-way/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [ All science requires mathematics. \[Editors' summary of Bacon's idea, not Bacon's wording.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/all-science-requires-mathematics-editors-summary-of-bacon-s-idea-not/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [If in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundation of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/if-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [There are in fact four very significant stumblingblocks in the way of grasping the truth, which hinder every man however learned, and scarcely allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/there-are-in-fact-four-very-significant-stumblingblocks-in-the-way-of/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [To ask the proper question is half of knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/to-ask-the-proper-question-is-half-of-knowing/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [It is easier for a man to burn down his own house than to get rid of his prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/it-is-easier-for-a-man-to-burn-down-his-own-house-than-to-get-rid-of/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [“Wissenschaft ist Macht.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/wissenschaft-ist-macht/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [All sciences are connected; they lend each other material aid as parts of one great whole, each doing its own work, not for itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/all-sciences-are-connected-they-lend-each-other-material-aid-as-parts/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [All science requires mathematics. The knowledge of mathematical things is almost innate in us. This is the easiest of sciences, a fact which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/all-science-requires-mathematics-the-knowledge-of-mathematical-things/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Half of science is asking the right questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/half-of-science-is-asking-the-right-questions/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) [Explore all 44 Roger Bacon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. 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