Robert Burton
Robert Burton
An Oxford University scholar, he is best known for his classic 1621 work, The Anatomy of Melancholy. He was also a mathematician and an amateur astrologer.
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionTeacher
Date of Birth8 February 1577
deeper english-writer strikes
A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.
gay life love nature night summer wanting
What is life, when wanting love? Night without a morning; love's the cloudless summer sun, nature gay adorning.
books books-and-reading fat lean works
They lard their lean books with the fat of others' works
joys naught sweet
All my joys to this are folly, / Naught so sweet as melancholy.
dwarf farther giant himself shoulders standing
I say with Didacus Stella, a dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself
bitter drink freely health indeed lies man open precious preserve purse recover restore thee undergo
Health indeed is a precious thing, to recover and preserve which we undergo any misery, drink bitter potions, freely give our goods: restore a man to his health, his purse lies open to thee
humility proud
They are proud in humility; proud in that they are not proud
humility proud
They are proud in humility, proud that they are not proud.
beyond body commonly diseases far goes overthrow remedy ruin sovereign violent
Tobacco, divine, rare, superexcellent tobacco, which goes far beyond all the panaceas, potable gold, and philosophers 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.
motivational eye dwarves
A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself.
solitary idle
Be not solitary, be not idle
exception
No rule is so general, which admits not some exception.
friendship old-friends enemy
Old friends become bitter enemies on a sudden for toys and small offenses.
hath
We can say nothing but what hath been said