John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
1946 Franis Baon 1561-1626 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 1946 |
| AUTHOR: | Francis Bacon (1561–1626) |
| QUOTATION: | The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Of Goodness. |
| Note 1. Pride still is aiming at the blest abodes; Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell, Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Alexander Pope: Essay on Man, ep. i. line 125. [back] |