Sir Thomas Browne was a British polymath and writer. He was well-versed on a range of subjects including religion, natural sciences and medicine among others. Throughout his career that lasted over several decades, Browne expressed his thoughts and wrote on a range of subjects. Browne’s works often drew inspiration from the stories in the Bible as well as those in the Classics and are particularly well-known for an understated humour that can be palpable to the reader. Considering the variety of subjects that he dealt with throughout his career, he is rightly considered as one of the most important writers in the English language and as such it is also not a surprise that his works have often been quoted by people from all walks of life. Some of his noted works include ‘The Garden of Cyrus’, ‘Christian Morals’, ‘A Letter To a Friend’, ‘Religio Medici’ and ‘Hydriotaphia’ among others. It is unknown whether Browne was a gifted orator but there is no doubt that he was one of the most learned men in England. His works are still read by scholars. Here is a collection of quotes and sayings excerpted from his wide range of works. Read through the compilation of quotations and thoughts by Thomas Browne which are sure to inspire you.
Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles.
Thomas Browne
I am the happiest man alive. I have that in me that can convert poverty to riches, adversity to prosperity, and I am more invulnerable than Archilles; Fortune hath not one place to hit me.
There are mystically in our faces certain characters which carry in them the motto of our souls, wherein he that cannot read A, B, C may read our natures.
Thomas Browne
Men live by intervals of reason under the sovereignty of humor and passion.
Thomas Browne
Charity But how shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to ourselves? Charity begins at home, is the voice of the world; yet is every man his greatest enemy, and, as it were, his own executioner.
I make not therefore my head a grave, but a treasure, of knowledge; I intend no Monopoly, but a community, in learning; I study not for my own sake only, but for theirs that study not for themselves.
