《散文集》收集了他长达二十八年的间歇创作，涉及荣誉、财富、爱情、名声、雄心和友谊等人类生活和感的各个方面，其精辟理智的见解和冷静雄犀的笔调使其成为人类文学史和思想史的重要著作，也是至今最出色和流传最广的人文作品之一。

The fruits of unity (next unto the well pleasing of God, which is all in all) are two; me one, towards those that are without the church; the other, towards those that are within. For the former, it is certain, that heresies, and schisms are of all others the greatest scandals; yea more than corruption of manners.

Introduction·································3
To the Right Honourable my very good lord the Duke of
Buckingham his Grace, Lord High Admiral of England·············25
1 Of Studies ································26
2 Of Truth·································28
3 Of Death ·································31
4 Of Unity in Religion ···························34
5 Of Revenge ································39
6 Of Adversity·······························41
7 Of Simulation & Dissimulation ······················43
8 Of Parents & Children···························49
9 Of Marriage & Single Life ························53
10 Of Envy·································55
11 Of Love·································60
12 Of GreatPlace ······························62
13 Of Boldness·······························66
14 Of Goodness, & Goodness of Nature ····················68
15 Of Nobility ·······························73
16 Of Seditions & Troubles ·························75
17 Of Atheism ·······························83
18 Of Superstition ·····························86
19 Of Travel ································88
20 Of Empire ································91
21 Of Counsel ·······························96
22 Of Delays ·······························101
23 Of Cunning·······························103
24 Of Wisdom for a Man’s Self···················107
25 Of Innovations ·····························109
26 Of Dispatch·······························111
27 Of Seeming Wise·····························113
28 Of Friendship ·····························117
29 Of Expense ······························127
30 Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms & Estates ··············129
31 Of Regiment of Health····················139
32 Of Suspicion······························141
33 Of Discourse ······························143
34 Of Plantations ·····························145
35 Of Riches································148
36 Of Prophecies ·····························152
37 Of Ambition·······························156
38 Of Masques & Triumphs ···············159
39 Of Nature in Men····························161
40 Of Custom & Education ·························163
41 Of Fortune·······························165
42 Of Usury································168
43 Of Youth & Age ·····························172
44 Of Beauty ·······························177
45 Of Deformity ······························179
46 Of Building ······························181
47 Of Gardens·······························186
48 Of Negotiating·····························193
49 Of Followers & Friends ·················195
50 Of Suitors·······························199
51 Of Faction······························201
52 Of Ceremonies & Respects ····················································203
53 Of Praise··················································································205
54 Of Vainglory ···········································································207
55 Of Honour & Reputation·······················································209
56 Of Judicature ··········································································212
57 Of Anger·················································································219
58 Of Vicissitude of Things·························································222
A Fragment of an Essay of Fame···················································· 228

弗朗西斯•培根（1561-1626），英国文艺复兴时期著名的哲学家、思想家和文化大师。培根生于贵族之家，阅历丰富。他一生在在文学、哲学、科学、美学、伦理学、语言逻辑学等领域都有不凡的建树，是一位影响深远、多才多艺的大家。代表作主要有：《培根论说文集》、《学术的进展》、《新工具》、《亨利七世本纪》和《论人类的知识》等。