Robert Burton
Robert Burton
An Oxford University scholar, he is best known for his classic 1621 work, The Anatomy of Melancholy. He was also a mathematician and an amateur astrologer.
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionTeacher
Date of Birth8 February 1577
anxiety cares fear full heart life silence
Most part of a lover's life is full of agony, anxiety, fear and grief, complaints, sighs, suspicions, and cares (heigh-ho my heart is woe), full of silence and irksome solitariness
books books-and-reading fat lean works
They lard their lean books with the fat of others' works
beyond charming human magnetic motive powerful woman
There is something in a woman beyond all human delight; a magnetic virtue, a charming quality, an occult and powerful motive
admit alone both envy hath pleasure sin wants
Every other sin hath some pleasure annexed to it, or will admit of an excuse: envy alone wants both
father son struck
Diogenes struck the father when the son swore
hearing melancholy men pleasing present remedy therefore
Many men are melancholy by hearing music, but it is a pleasing melancholy that it causeth; and therefore to such as are discontent, in woe, fear, sorrow, or dejected, it is a most present remedy
attending bad english-writer good hath life man particular
Every man hath a good and a bad angel attending on him in particular all his life long.
deeper english-writer strikes
A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.
english-writer marriage
One was never married, and that's his hell; another is, and that's his plague.
gay life love nature night summer wanting
What is life, when wanting love? Night without a morning; love's the cloudless summer sun, nature gay adorning.
families
Almost in every kingdom the most ancient families have been at first princes' bastards.
joys naught sweet
All my joys to this are folly, / Naught so sweet as melancholy.
humility proud
They are proud in humility, proud that they are not proud.
humility proud
They are proud in humility; proud in that they are not proud