Robert Burton Quotes

As much valour is to be found in feasting as in fighting, and some of our city captains and carpet knights will make this good, and prove it.

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.

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

Him that makes shoes go barefoot himself.

One religion is as true as another.

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

Like Aesop's fox, when he had lost his tail, would have all his fellow foxes cut off theirs.

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

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

Like the watermen that row one way and look another.

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

Old friends become bitter enemies on a sudden for toys and small offenses.

As that great captain, Ziska, would have a drum made of his skin when he was dead, because he thought the very noise of it would put his enemies to flight.

We can say nothing but what hath been said. Our poets steal from Homer... Our story-dressers do as much; he that comes last is commonly best.

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.