Quote

I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an elephant ugly they being created in those outward shapes and figures which best express the actions of their inward forms.

Thomas Browne

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Thomas Browne
Age: 77 †
Born: 1605
Born: October 19
Died: 1682
Died: October 19
Author
Philosopher
Physician
Physician Writer
Writer
London
England
Sir Thomas Browne
Thomas Browne
Best
Figures
Logic
Created
Express
Beauty
Bear
Toad
Call
Forms
Toads
Action
Actions
Elephant
Tell
Ugly
Elephants
Cannot
Shapes
Outward
Form
Bears
Inward

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A wise man is out of the reach of fortune.
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To ruminate upon evils, to make critical notes upon injuries, and be too acute in their apprehensions, 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.
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There are no grotesques in nature not anything framed to fill up empty cantons, and unnecessary spaces.
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Nor do they speak properly who say that time consumeth all things for time is not effective, nor are bodies destroyed by it.
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That some have never dreamed is as improbable as that some have never laughed.
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I have loved my friends as I do virtue, my soul, my God.
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There is another man within me that's angry with me.
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Many-have too rashly charged the troops of error, and remain as trophies unto the enemies of truth.
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For my part, I have ever believed, and do now know, that there are witches.
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I can cure the gout or stone in some, sooner than Divinity, Pride, or Avarice in others.
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To extend our memories by monuments, whose death we daily pray for, and whose duration we cannot hope, without injury to our expectations in the advent of the last day, were a contradiction to our belief.
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I would not live over my hours past ... not unto Cicero's ground because I have lived them well, but for fear I should live them worse.
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Gold once out of the earth is no more due unto it what was unreasonably committed to the ground, is reasonably resumed from it let monuments and rich fabricks, not riches, adorn men's ashes.
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All the wonders you seek are within yourself.
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Suicide is not to fear death, but yet to be afraid of life. It is a brave act of valour to contemn death but when life is more terrible than death, it is then the truest valour to dare to live and herein religion hath taught us a noble example, for all the valiant acts of Curtius, Scarvola, or Codrus, do not parallel or match that one of Job.
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Circles and right lines limit and close all bodies, and the mortal right-lined circle must conclude and shut up all.
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I have tried if I could reach that great resolution . . . to be honest without a thought of Heaven or Hell.
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Festination may prove Precipitation Deliberating delay may be wise cunctation.
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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.
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