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
Terminus Est a thrusting weapon. "Terminus Est" is eventually destroyed while Severian wields it in battle. This occurs during his fight against Baldanders, his former traveling companion. When "Terminus Est" strikes the massive and bizarre mace Baldanders wields, which seems to be tuned to the resonance frequency at which Terminus Est would shatter, both weapons are destroyed. Upon the destruction of "Terminus Est", Severian recovers the hilt of the shattered blade, later returning it to Master Palaemon upon his triumphant return to the Citadel at the close of the series. "Terminus Est" is commonly translated from the Latin as "This is the