弗朗西斯·培根被马克思称为“英国唯物主义和整个现代实验科学的真正始祖”。《培根随笔集》摈弃了空洞、肤浅、絮聒的毛病，文章精短隽永、结构严密、行文紧凑、充满智慧，文字深刻老练、沉稳有力，警句格言层见叠出、至理名言俯拾即是，为他在世界文学史上奠定了伟大散文家的地位。

《培根随笔集》是英国思想家弗朗西斯·培根一生心血的结晶。全书由五十余篇美妙而富有哲理的文章构成，书中随处可见那些发人深思的语句，许多句子都成为指导后人思想言行的名句箴言。书的内容几乎涉及人类生活的方方面面。语言简洁，文笔优美，说理透彻，警句迭出，几百年来深受各国读者喜爱。培根学识渊博且通晓人情世故，对谈及的问题均由发人深省的独到见解。

Introduction

Chronology

Note on the Text

An Advertisement touching the Controversies of the Church of England

Letter to Lord Burghley

Of Tribute; or, giving that which is due

A Device for the Gray's Inn Revels

Of Love and Self-Love

Advice to the Earl of Rutland on his travels

Essays (1 597), Religious Meditations, Of the Colours of Good and Evil

Advice to Fulke Greville on his studies

A Confession of Faith

Two Prayers

A Letter and Discourse to Sir Henry Savile touching helps for the intellectual powers

The Advancement of Learning

Essays ( 1612)

The Charge touching duels

The Charge against Somerset for poisoning Overbury

Letter to King James I, March 1621

Letter to Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, 1621

Poems and Psalms

The ys or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625)

 1.Of Truth

 2.Of Death

 3.Of Unity in Religion

 4.Of Revenge

 5.Of Adversity

 6.Of Simulation and Dissimulation

 7.Of Parents and Children

 8.Of Marriage and Single Life

 9.Of Envy

 10.Of Love

 11.Of Great Place

 12.Of Boldness

 13.Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature

 14.Of Nobility

 15.Of Seditions and Troubles

 16.Of Atheism

 17.Of Superstition

 18.Of Travel

 19.Of Empire

 20.Of Counsel

 21.Of Delays

 22.Of Cunning

 23.Of Wisdom for a Man's Self

 24.Of Innovations

 25.Of Dispatch

 26.Of Seeming Wise

 27.Of Friendship

 28.Of Expense

 29.Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates

 30.Of Regiment of Health

 31.Of Suspicion

 32.Of Discourse

 33.Of Plantations

 34.Of Riches

 35.Of Prophecies

 36.Of Ambition

 37.Of Masques and Triumphs

 38.Of Nature in Men

 39.Of Custom and Education

 40.Of Fortune

 41.Of Usury

 42.Of Youth and Age

 43.Of Beauty

 44-Of Deformity

 45.Of Building

 46.Of Gardens

 47.Of Negotiating

 48.Of Followers and Friends

 49.Of Suitors

 50.Of Studies

 51.Of Faction

 52.Of Ceremonies and Respects

 53 .Of Praise

 54.Of Vain-Glory

 55.Of Honour and Reputation

 56.Of Judicature

 57.Of Anger

 58.Of Vicissitude of Things

 59.A Fragment of an Essay on Fame

New Atlantis

Abbreviations

Notes

Further Reading

Index