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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 170

 
 
Francis Bacon. (1561–1626) (continued)
 
1977
    Sacred and inspired divinity, the sabaoth and port of all men’s labours and peregrinations.
          Advancement of Learning. Book ii. (1605).
1978
    Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God. 1
          Advancement of Learning. Book ii. (1605).
1979
    States as great engines move slowly.
          Advancement of Learning. Book ii. (1605).
1980
    The world ’s a bubble, and the life of man
  Less than a span. 2
          The World.
1981
    Who then to frail mortality shall trust
But limns on water, or but writes in dust.
          The World.
1982
    What then remains but that we still should cry
For being born, and, being born, to die? 3
          The World.
1983
    For my name and memory, I leave it to men’s charitable speeches, to foreign nations, and to the next ages.
          From his Will.
1984
    My Lord St. Albans said that Nature did never put her precious jewels into a garret four stories high, and therefore that exceeding tall men had ever very empty heads. 4
          Apothegms. No. 17.
 
Note 1.
Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness.—John Wesley (quoted): Journal, Feb. 12, 1772.

According to Dr. A. S. Bettelheim, rabbi, this is found in the Hebrew fathers. He cites Phinehas ben Yair, as follows: “The doctrines of religion are resolved into carefulness; carefulness into vigorousness; vigorousness into guiltlessness; guiltlessness into abstemiousness; abstemiousness into cleanliness; cleanliness into godliness,”—literally, next to godliness. [back]
Note 2.
Whose life is a bubble, and in length a span.—Sir Thomas Browne: Pastoral ii.

Our life is but a span.—New England Primer. [back]
Note 3.
This line frequently occurs in almost exactly the same shape among the minor poems of the time: “Not to be born, or, being born, to die.”—William Drummond: Poems, p. 44. Bishop King: Poems, etc. (1657), p. 145. [back]
Note 4.
Tall men are like houses of four stories, wherein commonly the uppermost room is worst furnished.—Howell (quoted): Letter i. book i. sect. ii. (1621.)

Often the cockloft is empty in those whom Nature hath built many stories high.—Thomas Fuller: Andronicus, sect. vi. par. 18, 1.

Such as take lodgings in a head
That ’s to be let unfurnished.
Samuel Butler: Hudibras, part i. canto i. line 161. [back]