Robert Burton (1577 – 1640)
English scholar at Oxford University, whose chief claim to fame is for writing The Anatomy of Melancholy.
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.
No rule is so general, which admits not some exception.
The Chinese say that we Europeans have one eye, they themselves two, all the world else is blinde.
A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.
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?"
A good conscience is a continual feast.
What physic, what chirurgery, what wealth, favor, authority can relieve, bear out, assuage, or expel a troubled conscience? A quiet mind cureth all them, but all they cannot comfort a distressed soul: who can put to silence the voice of desperation?
The Devil himself, which is the author of confusion and lies.
The miller sees not all the water that goes by his mill.
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.
Him that makes shoes go barefoot himself.
Aristotle said melancholy men of all others are most witty.
Idleness is an appendix to nobility.
What can't be cured must be endured.
To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle in the sun.
Going as if he trod upon eggs.
Diogenes struck the father when the son swore.
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.
They have cheveril consciences that will stretch.