Robert Burton

"Though they [philosophers] write contemptu gloriæ, yet as Hieron observes, they will put their names to their books."

"They are proud in humility; proud that they are not proud."

"We can make majors and officers every year, but not scholars."

"Hinc quam sic calamus sævior ense, patet. The pen worse than the sword."

"Homer himself must beg if he want means, and as by report sometimes he did "go from door to door and sing ballads, with a company of boys about him.""

"See one promontory (said Socrates of old), one mountain, one sea, one river, and see all."

"One was never married, and that's his hell; another is, and that's his plague."

"Felix Plater notes of some young physicians, that study to cure diseases, catch them themselves, will be sick, and appropriate all symptoms they find related of others to their own persons."

"Aristotle said melancholy men of all others are most witty."

"Seneca thinks the gods are well pleased when they see great men contending with adversity."

"Like him in Æsop, he whipped his horses withal, and put his shoulder to the wheel."

"Machiavel says virtue and riches seldom settle on one man."

"Almost in every kingdom the most ancient families have been at first princes' bastards; their worthiest captains, best wits, greatest scholars, bravest spirits in all our annals, have been base [born]."

"As he said in Machiavel, omnes eodem patre nati, Adam's sons, conceived all and born in sin, etc. "We are by nature all as one, all alike, if you see us naked; let us wear theirs and they our clothes, and what is the difference?""

"Set a beggar on horseback and he will ride a gallop."

"Fabricius finds certain spots and clouds in the sun."

"Christ himself was poor... And as he was himself, so he informed his apostles and disciples, they were all poor, prophets poor, apostles poor."

"Who cannot give good counsel? 'Tis cheap, it costs them nothing."

"Many things happen between the cup and the lip."

"What can't be cured must be endured."

"Everything, saith Epictetus, hath two handles,—the one to be held by, the other not."

"All places are distant from heaven alike."

"The commonwealth of Venice in their armory have this inscription: "Happy is that city which in time of peace thinks of war.""

"Every man, as the saying is, can tame a shrew but he that hath her."

"Almost in every kingdom the most ancient families have been at first princes' bastards."

"Tobacco, divine, rare, superexcellent tobacco, which goes far beyond all the panaceas, potable gold, and philosopher's stones, a sovereign remedy to all diseases...but as it is commonly abused by most men, which take it as tinkers do ale, 'tis a plague, a mischief, a violent purger of goods, lands, health, hellish, devilish and damned tobacco, the ruin and overthrow of body and soul."

"Let me not live," saith Aretine's Antonia, "if I had not rather hear thy discourse than see a play."

"Every schoolboy hath that famous testament of Grunnius Corocotta Porcellus at his fingers' end."

"Birds of a feather will gather together."

"And this is that Homer's golden chain, which reacheth down from heaven to earth, by which every creature is annexed, and depends on his Creator."

"And hold one another's noses to the grindstone hard."

"Every man for himself, his own ends, the Devil for all."

"No cord nor cable can so forcibly draw, or hold so fast, as love can do with a twined thread."

"To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle in the sun."

"Diogenes struck the father when the son swore, because he taught him no better."

"He is only fantastical that is not in fashion."

"[Quoting Seneca] Cornelia kept her in talk till her children came from school, "and these," said she, "are my jewels.""

"To these crocodile tears they will add sobs, fiery sighs, and sorrowful countenance."

"Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven."

"Diogenes struck the father when the son swore."

"Though it rain daggers with their points downward."

"Going as if he trod upon eggs."

"I light my candle from their torches."

"England is a paradise for women and hell for horses; Italy a paradise for horses, hell for women, as the diverb goes."

"The miller sees not all the water that goes by his mill."

"As clear and as manifest as the nose in a man's face."

"Make a virtue of necessity."

"Where God hath a temple, the Devil will have a chapel."

"If the world will be gulled, let it be gulled."

"For ignorance is the mother of devotion, as all the world knows, and these times can amply witness."