Scientia potentia est

"Knowledge is Power" redirects here. For other uses, see Knowledge is Power (disambiguation).

American Information Awareness Office seal with its motto scientia est potentia
Logos of the popular science magazine Znanie — sila (USSR/Russia) - in translation "Knowledge is power"

The phrase "scientia potentia est" (or "scientia est potentia" or also "scientia potestas est") is a Latin aphorism meaning "knowledge is power", commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon. The expression "ipsa scientia potestas est" ('knowledge itself is power') occurs in Bacon's Meditationes Sacrae (1597). The exact phrase "scientia potentia est" (knowledge is power) was written for the first time in the 1668 version of Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes, who was a secretary to Bacon as a young man. The related phrase "sapientia est potentia" is often translated as "wisdom is power".[1]

  1. ^ Dario Fo (June 13, 2004). "Knowledge like challenge to every form of powers". repubblica.it (in Italian).