Robert Burton - The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621)

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The heavens themselves run continually round, the sun riseth and sets, the moon increaseth, stars and planets keep their constant motions, the air is tossed by the winds, the waters ebb and flow, to their conservation no doubt, to teach us that we should ever be in motion.

Robert Burton
Sickness is the mother of modesty, putteth us in minde of our mortality; and, when wee are in the full careere of worldly pompe and jollity, she pulleth us by the eare, and maketh us knowe ourselves.

Robert Burton
A nightingale, dies for shame, if another bird sing better, he languisheth and pineth away in the anguish of his spirit.

Robert Burton
Doth the moon care for the barking of a dog?

Robert Burton
As if they had heard that enchanted horn of Astolpho, that English duke in Ariosto, which never sounded but all his auditors were mad, and for fear ready to make away [with] themselves … they are a company of giddy-heads, afternoon men.

Robert Burton
I had a heavy heart and an ugly head, a kind of impostume in my head, which I was very desirous to be unladen of.

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

Robert Burton
Though it rain daggers with their points downward.

Robert Burton
I would help others, out of a fellow-feeling.

Robert Burton
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.

Robert Burton
[Quoting Seneca] Cornelia kept her in talk till her children came from school, "and these," said she, "are my jewels."

Robert Burton
As he said in Machiavel, omnes eodem patre nati, Adam's sons, conceived all and born in sin, etc. "We are by nature all as one, all alike, if you see us naked; let us wear theirs and they our clothes, and what is the difference?"

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

Robert Burton
Our conscience, which is a great ledger book, wherein are written all our offenses... grinds our souls with the remembrance of some precedent sins, makes us reflect upon, accuse and condemn ourselves.

Robert Burton
Like dogs in a wheel, birds in a cage, or squirrels in a chain, they still climb and climb, with great labor, and incessant anxiety, but never reach the top.

Robert Burton
Columbus did not find out America by chance, but God directed him at that time to discover it; it was contingent to him, but necessary to God.

Robert Burton
To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle in the sun.

Robert Burton
Many things happen between the cup and the lip.

Robert Burton
To these crocodile's tears they will add sobs, fiery sighs, and sorrowful countenance, pale colour, leanness.

Robert Burton
Melancholy and despair, though often, do not always concur; there is much difference: melancholy fears without a cause, this upon great occasion; melancholy is caused by fear and grief, but this torment procures them and all extremity of bitterness.

Robert Burton
Fabricius finds certain spots and clouds in the sun.

Robert Burton
"Let me not live," said Aretine's Antonia, "if I had not rather hear thy discourse than see a play."

Robert Burton
[Witches] steal young children out of their cradles, ministerio dæmonum, and put deformed in their rooms, which we call changelings.

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

Robert Burton
[Desire is] a perpetual rack, or horsemill, according to Austin [Saint Augustine], still going round as in a ring.

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

Robert Burton
A nightingale dies for shame if another bird sings better.

Robert Burton
Smile with an intent to do mischief, or cozen him whom he salutes.

Robert Burton
Every man for himself, his own ends, the Devil for all.

Robert Burton
Like him in Aesop, he whipped his horses withal, and put his shoulder to the wheel.

Robert Burton