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.
families
Almost in every kingdom the most ancient families have been at first princes' bastards.
joys naught sweet
All my joys to this are folly, / Naught so sweet as melancholy.
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.
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
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
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
amongst fashion generally good hath italians man mistress poets
Why are Italians at this day generally so good poets and painters? Because every man of any fashion amongst them hath his mistress
chapel devil god hath
Where God hath a temple, the Devil will have a chapel
die hanged lay loath money save
Were it not that they are loath to lay out money on a rope, they would be hanged forthwith, and sometimes die to save charges.