《新工具》也许是培根最重要的著作。这部著作基本上是号召人们采用实验调查法。由于完全依靠亚里士多德演绎逻辑方法荒诞可笑，因而需要一种新的逻辑方法——归纳法。知识并不是我们推论中的已知条件，而是要从条件中归纳出结论性的东西，更确切地说是我们要达到目的的结论。人们要了解世界，就必须首先去观察世界。培根指出要首先收集事实，然后再用归纳推理手段从这些事实中得出结论。虽然科学家在每一个细节方面并不都是遵循培根的归纳法，但是他所表达的基本思想对观察和实验有重大意义，构成了自那时起科学家一直所采用的方法的核心。

培根是新贵族的思想代表，反对君权神授和君权无限，主张限制王权；拥护清教主张改革，但反对革命。他对中世纪的经院哲学，提出必须清除它给人们造成的错误认识和偏见（他称之为假相），以便给认识和科学扫清道路。他继承了古代唯物主义传统，承认自然界是物质的，认为构成一切事物的最小单位是真正的分子，即事物的简单性质，它是有限的不变的。千差万别的事物都是由它的不同排列和组合构成的。运动是物质固有的最重要的特性，运动是有规律的，其形式是多样的。他称事物运动的规律和规定性为形式。科学的任务就是发现形式，从而获得行动上的自由，以便征服自然。提出“知识就是力量”的口号。

他提出唯物主义经验论的基本原则，认为感觉是认识的开端，它是完全可靠的，是一切知识的泉源。他重视科学实验在认识中的作用，认为必须借助于实验，才能弥补感官的不足，深入揭露自然的奥秘。他重视归纳法，强调它的作用和意义，认为它是唯一正确的方法，但它否定了演绎法的作用是片面的。他把自然科学中孤立静止的研究方法移植到哲学上来，造成了欧洲近代哲学所特有的局限性。他的哲学具有神学的不彻底性，他主张双重真理，承认上帝存在和灵魂不死等宗教教条。他的唯物主义哲学对近代哲学的发展有很大影响。主要著作有：《新工具》、 《学术的进步》 、 《新大西岛》 、《亨利七世本纪》、《培根随笔》等。其中培根的《谈读书》入选人教版九上第15课。代表作《新工具》，在近代哲学史上具有划时代的意义和广泛的影响，哲学家由此把它看成是从古代唯物论向近代唯物论转变的先驱。

代表作品
《学术的进展》，1605年
《新工具论》，1620年
《论说文集》，1624年
《亨利七世本纪》
《论事物的本性》
《迷宫的线索》
《各家哲学的批判》
《自然界的大事》
《论人类的知识》
《培根人生论》
《培根随笔》

Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Beauty"[Beauty]
Silence is the virtue of fools.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Silence]
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Opportunity]
Houses are built to live in, not to look on; therefore, let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Essays: Of Building, 1623
Man seeketh in society comfort, use and protection.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), The Advancement of Learning, 1605
Knowledge is power.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Religious Meditations, Of Heresies, 1597[Knowledge] [Power]
Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Books]
Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Writing]
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Revenge]
Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Read not to contradict and confute, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Books]
Praise from the common people is generally false, and rather follows the vain than the virtuous.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to the more ought law to weed it out.
------- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Revenge]
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Beauty"[Beauty]
Silence is the virtue of fools.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Silence]
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Opportunity]
Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.
Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603), in Francis Bacon, Apophthegms, 1625[Anger]
Houses are built to live in, not to look on; therefore, let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Essays: Of Building, 1623
Man seeketh in society comfort, use and protection.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), The Advancement of Learning, 1605
Knowledge is power.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Religious Meditations, Of Heresies, 1597
[Knowledge] [Power]
Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Books]
Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Writing]
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Revenge]
Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Read not to contradict and confute, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Books]
Praise from the common people is generally false, and rather follows the vain than the virtuous.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to the more ought law to weed it out.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)[Revenge]
He of whom many are afraid ought to fear many.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Knowledge is power.(Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est)
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Meditationes Sacræ. De Hæresibus. (1597)
I have taken all knowledge to be my province.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
By far the best proof is experience.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626) [Experience]
Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
In charity there is no excess.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature (1625)
- More quotations on: [Charity]
Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased by tales, so is the other.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Death"
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Dolendi modus, timendi non item.(To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none.)
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), Of Seditions and Troubles
The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
A prudent question is one half of wisdom.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, But depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
There is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of his soul. Men must not turn into bees, and kill themselves in stinging others.
------ Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)

此外，对于一个大人物来说，如果他能利用自己的优越地位，来保护他的下属们的利益，那么这也等于是筑起了一座防止嫉妒的有效堤防。
应当注意的是，那种骄傲自大的人物是最易招来嫉妒的。这种人总想在一切方面来显示自己的优越：或者大肆铺张地炫耀，或者力图压倒一切竞争者。其实真正的聪明人倒宁可给人类的嫉妒心留下点余地，有意让别人在无关紧要的事情占占自己的上风。
然而另一方面也要看到，对于享有某种优越地位的人来说，与其狡诈地掩饰，莫如坦率诚恳地放开（只是千万不要表现出骄矜与浮夸），这样招来的嫉妒会小一些；因为对于前一种人，似乎更显示出他是没有价值因而不配享受那种幸福的，他们的作假简直就是在教唆别人来嫉妒自己了。
让我们归纳一下已经说过的吧。我们在开始时说过，嫉妒有点接近于巫术，是蛊惑人心的。那么要防止嫉妒，也就不妨采用点巫术，就是把那容易招来嫉妒的妖气转嫁到别人身上。正是由于懂得这一点，所以有许多明智的大人物，凡有抛头露面出风头的事情，都推出别人作为替身去登台表演，而自己则宁愿躲在幕后。这样一来，群众的嫉妒就落在别人身上了。事实上，愿意分演这种替人出风头角色的傻瓜天生是不会少的。
我们再来谈谈什么是公妒。
公众的嫉妒比个人的嫉妒多少有点价值。公妒对于大人物，正如古典希腊时代的流放惩罚一样，是强迫他们收敛与节制一种办法。
所谓“公妒”，其实也是一种公愤。对于一个国家是具有严重危险性的一种疾病。人民一旦对他们的执政者产生了这种公愤，那么就连最好的政策也将被视为恶臭，受到唾弃。所以丧失了民心的统治者即使在办好事，也不会得到群众的拥护。因为人民将把这更看作是一种怯懦，一种对公愤的畏惧——其结果是，你越怕它，它就越要找上门来。
这种公妒或公愤，有时只是针对某位执政才个人，而不是针对一种政治体制的。但是请记住这样一条定律：如果这种民众的公愤已扩展到几乎所有的大臣身上，那么这个国家体制就必定将面临倾覆了。
最后再做一点总结吧。在人类的一切情欲中，嫉妒之情恐怕要算作最顽强，最持久的人。所以古人曾说过：“嫉妒是不懂休息的。”同时还有人观察过，与其他感情相比，只有爱情与嫉妒是最能令人消瘦的。这是因为没有什么能比爱与妒更具有持久的消耗力。但嫉妒毕竟是一种卑劣下贱的情欲，因此它乃是一种属于恶魔的素质。《圣经》曾告诉我们，魔鬼所以要趁着黑夜到麦地里去种上稗子④，就是类为他嫉妒别伯丰收呵！的确，犹如毁掉麦子一样，嫉妒这恶魔总是在暗地里，悄悄地去毁掉人间的好东西的！
①、纳西斯（Narses,472—568），东罗马帝国的将领。铁木尔，成吉思汗的儿子，蒙古名将。
②、阿提安（117—138），古罗马皇帝。
③、该隐与亚伯的故事出于《圣经》。他们是兄弟俩。由于该隐嫉妒亚伯，遂杀其弟。
④、出自《马太福音》第13章第25节。

《论读书》
读书足以怡情，足以博彩，足以长才。其怡情也，最见于独处幽居之时；其傅彩也，最见于高谈阔论之中；其长才也，最见于处世判事之际。练达之士虽能分别处理细事或一一判别枝节，然纵观统筹、全局策划，则舍好学深思者莫属。读书费时过多易惰，文采藻饰太盛则矫，全凭条文断事乃学究故态。
读书补天然之不足，经验又补读书之不足，盖天生才干犹如自然花草，读书然后知如何修剪移接；而书中所示，如不以经验范之，则又大而无当。狡黠者鄙读书，无知者羡读书，唯明智之士用读书，然书并不以用处告人，用书之智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。读书时不可存心诘难作者，不可尽信书上所言，亦不可只为寻章摘句，而应推敲细思。书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。换言之，有只须读其部分者，有只须大体涉猎者，少数则须全读，读时须全神贯注，孜孜不倦。书亦可请人代读，取其所作摘要，但只限题材较次或价值不高者，否则书经提炼犹如水经蒸馏、淡而无味矣。
读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。因此不常作笔记者须记忆特强，不常讨论者须天生聪颖，不常读书者须欺世有术，始能无知而显有知。读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻，伦理学使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩：凡有所学，皆成性格。人之才智但有滞碍，无不可读适当之书使之顺畅，一如身体百病，皆可借相宜之运动除之。滚球利睾肾，射箭利胸肺，慢步利肠胃，骑术利头脑，诸如此类。如智力不集中，可令读数学，盖演题须全神贯注，稍有分散即须重演；如不能辨异，可令读经院哲学，盖是辈皆吹毛求疵之人；如不善求同，不善以一物阐证另一物，可令读律师之案卷。如此头脑中凡有缺陷，皆有特药可医。
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourses; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert man can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affection; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.
They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for 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. Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise man use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled are like common distilled waters, flashy things.
Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he does not. Histories make men wise; and rhetoric able to contend. Studies pass into the character. Nay there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as disease of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are hairsplitters. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.

《培根随笔》为英国十七世纪著名思想家，政治家和经验主义哲学家弗朗西斯·培根所著.本书分为《论美》、《论善美与性善美》、《论真理》、《论家庭》、《论友谊》等多篇随笔.本书亦以大地万物为主角，呈现人们百态。通过精炼的语言、紧凑的情节、贴切的比喻将深刻的哲理寓于浅显的故事之中，使人获取借鉴，受到启迪。在《论求知》中，培根说道:"人的天性犹如野生的花草，求知学习好比修剪移栽。"可见求知可以改变人的命运，在我们的一生中是相当重要的.:"如果你把快乐告诉一个朋友，你将得到两个快乐;而如果你把忧愁向一个朋友倾吐，你将被分掉一半忧愁."这说明了朋友是我们身边必不可少的一个角色，可以为我们的生活增添色彩.从 《培根随笔集》的 《论真理》、《论死亡》、《说人之本性》等篇章中，可以看到他是一个热爱哲学的人。从《论高位》、《论帝王》、《论野心》等篇章中，可以看到他热衷于政治，深谙官场运作。从《论爱情》、《论友谊》、《论婚姻与独身》等篇章中，可以看到他富有生活情趣。从《论逆境》、《论幸福》、《论残疾》等篇章中，可以看到他自强不息。从《论伪装与掩饰》、《论言谈》等篇章中，可以看到他工于心计、老于世故。

作者可以介绍一下培根的《英王亨利七世本纪》嘛