Q0184
“For knowledge itself is power.” — Francis Bacon (Meditationes Sacrae（1597）)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Meditationes Sacrae（1597）. Theme: knowledge.
English
For knowledge itself is power.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Meditationes Sacrae（1597） and files it under Empiricism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was an English statesman, jurist, and philosopher of inductive science under Elizabeth I and James I. He rose to Lord Chancellor before falling in a bribery scandal.
How to read this passage
Epistemology asks whether knowledge is justified true belief, reliable tracking of the world, or something else; it also asks how perception, testimony, memory, and reason contribute. This passage enters that discussion through knowledge, power, inquiry.
Concepts in this quote
- Knowledge
- Knowledge is the philosophical study of what we can justifiably claim to know—and where certainty ends.
- Power
- Power is the capacity to affect others and to shape what counts as possible—central to politics and ethics.
- Inquiry
- Inquiry is the disciplined pursuit of better questions and answers—philosophy as method rather than dogma.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Francis Bacon. (n.d.). For knowledge itself is power. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0184
MLA: Francis Bacon. “For knowledge itself is power..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0184.
Chicago: Francis Bacon. “For knowledge itself is power..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0184.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “For knowledge itself is power.”?
The passage is attributed to Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae（1597）. The archive attributes this English wording to Meditationes Sacrae（1597） and files it under Empiricism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Francis Bacon mean by knowledge?
Epistemology asks whether knowledge is justified true belief, reliable tracking of the world, or something else; it also asks how perception, testimony, memory, and reason contribute. This passage enters that discussion through knowledge, power, inquiry.