# Adversity Discovers Virtue by Francis Bacon > “Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.” > **— Francis Bacon**, *Essays, “Of Adversity”* ## Sources and Context - **Direct or authoritative text:** [Essays, “Of Adversity”](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Works_of_Francis_Bacon/Volume_1/Essays/Of_Adversity) — Public-domain text of Bacon’s essay “Of Adversity.” - **Why it belongs here:** The passage describes improvement, revelation, learning, or increased capability through opposition, error, difficulty, or adversity. It does not imply that unlimited injury is beneficial. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Book:** [[books/Chimping Out|Chimping Out]] - **Article:** [[articles/Ideas as Lindy Organisms|Ideas as Lindy Organisms]] - **Article:** [[articles/artificial-intelligence/Cybernetic Domestication Syndrome of Men and AI|Cybernetic Domestication Syndrome of Men and AI]] - **Article:** [[articles/Authorship After the Threshold|Authorship After the Threshold]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Antifragility|Antifragility]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.” — Francis Bacon, Essays, “Of Adversity” https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-francis-bacon-adversity-discovers-virtue ```