Origins and Parallels
A proverb in practically the same wording is first found in Hebrew, in the Biblical Book of Proverbs (24:5): גֶּבֶר-חָכָם בַּעוֹז; וְאִישׁ-דַּעַת, מְאַמֶּץ-כֹּחַ, translated (in the KJV) as A wise man is strong, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
This early 1st millennium BC sentence became considerably widespread, as witnessed by a reference (around 1000 AD) in Ferdowsi's Shahname: توانا بود هر که دانا بود "One who has wisdom is powerful" - and by Bacon's wording (although whether he was deliberately quoting Proverbs cannot be determined - cf. Vulgate vir sapiens et fortis est et vir doctus robustus et validus).
Read more about this topic: Scientia Potentia Est
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