Thomas Browne - Christian Morals

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The created World is but a small Parenthesis in Eternity.

Thomas Browne
They do most by Books, who could do much without them, and he that chiefly owes himself unto himself, is the substantial Man.

Thomas Browne
He is like to be mistaken who makes choice of a covetous man for a friend, or relieth upon the reed of narrow and poltroon friendship. Pitiful things are only to be found in the cottages of such breasts; but bright thoughts, clear deeds, constancy, fidelity, bounty and generous honesty are the gems of noble minds, wherein (to derogate from none) the true, heroic English gentleman hath no peer.

Thomas Browne
Be thou what thou singly art and personate only thyself. Swim smoothly in the stream of thy nature and live but one man.

Thomas Browne
Tis hard to find a whole age to imitate, or what century to propose for example.

Thomas Browne
Miserable men commiserate not themselves; bowelless unto others, and merciless unto their own bowels.

Thomas Browne
Where we desire to be informed 'tis good to contest with men above ourselves; but to confirm and establish our opinions, 'tis best to argue with judgments below our own, that the frequent spoils and victories over their reasons may settle in ourselves an esteem and confirmed opinion of our own.

Thomas Browne
Festination may prove Precipitation;
Deliberating delay may be wise cunctation.

Thomas Browne
He who must needs have company, must needs have sometimes bad company.

Thomas Browne
With what shift and pains we come into the World we remember not; but 'tis commonly found no easy matter to get out of it.

Thomas Browne
In this virtuous Voyage of thy Life, hull not about like the Ark without the use of Rudder, Mast, or Sail, and bound for no Port. Let not Disappointment cause Despondency, nor difficulty despair.

Thomas Browne
Quotation mistakes, inadvertency, expedition, and human lapses, may make not only moles but warts in learned authors...

Thomas Browne
Let him have the key of thy heart, who hath the lock of his own.

Thomas Browne
Since women do most delight in revenge, it may seem but feminine manhood to be vindictive.

Thomas Browne
To ruminate upon evils, to make critical notes upon injuries, and to be too acute in their apprehension, is to add unto our own tortures, to feather the arrows of our enemies, to lash ourselves with the scorpions of our foes, and to resolve to sleep no more; for injuries long dreamt on, take away at last all rest.

Thomas Browne
Burden not the back of Aries, Leo, or Taurus, with thy faults, nor make Saturn, Mars, or Venus, guilty of thy Follies.

Thomas Browne
Affection should not be too sharp eyed, and love is not made by magnifying glasses.

Thomas Browne
Forcible ways make not an end of evil, but leave hatred and malice behind them.

Thomas Browne
Think not silence the wisdom of fools; but, if rightly timed, the honor of wise men, who have not the infirmity, but the virtue of taciturnity.

Thomas Browne
Be substantially great in thyself, and more than thou appearest unto others.

Thomas Browne
Think not thy time short in this world, since the world itself is not long. The created world is but a small parenthesis in eternity, and a short interposition, for a time, between such a state of duration as was before it and may be after it.

Thomas Browne
The greatest imperfection is in our inward sight, that is, to be ghosts unto our own eyes.

Thomas Browne
He who discommendeth others obliquely commendeth himself.

Thomas Browne
The noblest Digladiation is in the Theatre of ourselves.

Thomas Browne
Let the fruition of things bless the possession of them, and take no satisfaction in dying but living rich.

Thomas Browne
Content may dwell in all stations. To be low but above contempt may be high enough to be happy.

Thomas Browne
Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude, and the society of thyself.

Thomas Browne