Full Idea
Empiricists are like ants; they collect and put to use; but rationalists, like spiders, spin threads out of themselves. (…and bees follow the middle way, of collecting material and transforming it).
Gist of Idea
Empiricists are collecting ants; rationalists are spinning spiders; and bees do both
Source
Francis Bacon (Cogitata et Visa [1607])
Book Reference
Cottingham,John: 'Rationalism' [Paladin 1984], p.7
A Reaction
Nice (and so concisely expressed). Bees seem to be just more intelligent and energetic empiricists.