Robert Burton

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

Going as if he trod upon eggs.

Hannibal, as he had mighty virtues, so had he many vices; he had two distinct persons in him.

Every other sin hath some pleasure annexed to it, or will admit of an excuse; envy alone wants both. Other sins last but for awhile; the gut may be satisfied, anger remits, hatred hath an end, envy never ceaseth.

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

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

Him that makes shoes go barefoot himself.

Our wrangling lawyers... are so litigious and busy here on earth, that I think they will plead their clients' causes hereafter,—some of them in hell.

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.

Idleness is an appendix to nobility.

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

They do not live but linger.

[Diseases] crucify the soul of man, attenuate our bodies, dry them, wither them, shrivel them up like old apples, make them so many anatomies.

Every man hath a good and a bad angel attending on him in particular, all his life long.

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