Scientia potentia est Scientia potentia est The phrase "scientia potentia est"" (or "scientia est potentia" or also "scientia potestas est")" is a Latin aphorism meaning "knowledge is power". It is commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, although there is no known occurrence of this precise phrase in Bacon's English or Latin writings. However, the expression ""ipsa scientia potestas est"" ('knowledge itself is power') occurs in Bacon's "Meditationes Sacrae" (1597). The exact phrase ""scientia potentia est"" was written for the first time in the 1668 version of the work "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes, who was secretary to Bacon as a young man. The related
Ad astra (phrase) Ad astra (phrase) Ad astra is a Latin phrase meaning "to the stars". The phrase has origins with Virgil, who wrote "sic itur ad astra" ("thus one journeys to the stars", from "Aeneid" book IX, line 641, spoken by Apollo to Aeneas's young son Iulus) and "opta ardua pennis astra sequi" ("desire to pursue the high (or hard to reach) stars on wings" book XII, lines 892–893, spoken by Aeneas to his foe Turnus in their combat). Another origin is Seneca the Younger, who wrote "non est ad astra mollis e terris via" ("there is no easy way from the