“Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.”

English philosopher and statesman

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban, was an English philosopher and statesman. He served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I, and he is best known for his role in shaping early modern thought. Bacon argued for the importance of natural philosophy and for inquiry guided by the scientific method. His writings remained influential throughout the Scientific Revolution, especially for their emphasis on disciplined observation and the study of nature.