Thomas Browne Quotes

I believe the world grows near its end, yet is neither old nor decayed, nor will ever perish upon the ruins of its own principles.

We vainly accuse the fury of guns, and the new inventions of death; it is in the power of every hand to destroy us, and we are beholden unto every one we meet he doth not kill us.

Men that look no further than their outsides, think health an appurtenance unto life, and quarrel with their constitutions for being sick; but I that have examined the parts of man, and know upon what tender filaments that fabric hangs, do wonder that we are not always so; and considering the thousand doors that lead to death, do thank my God that we can die but once.

I am not so much afraid of death, as ashamed thereof; 'tis the very disgrace and ignominy of our natures, that in a moment can so disfigure us that our nearest friends, Wife, and Children stand afraid and start at us.

Thus is man that great and true Amphibium, whose nature is disposed to live not only like other creatures in diverse elements, but in divided and distinguished worlds.

Persecution is a bad and indirect way to plant Religion.

Obstinacy in a bad cause, is but constancy in a good.

All things are artificial, for nature is the Art of God.

Art is the perfection of nature.

We carry with us the wonders, we seek without us: There is all Africa, and her prodigies in us; we are that bold and adventurous piece of nature, which he that studies, wisely learns in a compendium, what others labour at in a divided piece and endless volume.

The severe Schools shall never laugh me out of the Philosophy of Hermes, that this visible world is but a picture of the invisible.

I have often admired the mystical way of Pythagoras, and the secret Magic of numbers.

I love to lose myself in a mystery to pursue my reason to an O altitudo.

Rich with the spoils of Nature.

A man may be in as just possession of Truth as of a City, and yet be forced to surrender.