Richard Francis Burton Quotes & Sayings

Little islands are all large prisons; one cannot look at the sea without wishing for the wings of a swallow. — Richard Francis Burton

[Shahrazad] had perused the books, annals and legends of preceding Kings, and the stories, examples and instances of by gone men and things; indeed it was said that she had collected a thousand books of histories relating to antique races and departed rulers. She had perused the works of the poets and knew them by heart; she had studied philosophy and the sciences, arts and accomplishments; and she was pleasant and polite, wise and witty, well read and well bred. — Richard Francis Burton

And still the Weaver plies his loom,
whose warp and woof is wretched Man
Weaving th' unpattern'd dark design,
so dark we doubt it owns a plan — Richard Francis Burton

Travellers, like poets, are mostly an angry race: by falling into a daily fit of passion, I proved to the governor and his son, who were profuse in their attentions, that I was in earnest. — Richard Francis Burton

The actor Richard Burton once wrote an article for the New York Times about his experience playing the role of Winston Churchill in a television drama:
"In the course of preparing myself ... I realized afresh that I hate Churchill and all of his kind. I hate them virulently. They have stalked down the corridors of endless power all through history ... What man of sanity would say on hearing of the atrocities committed by the Japanese against British and Anzac prisoners of war, 'We shall wipe them out, everyone of them, men, women, and children. There shall not be a Japanese left on the face of the earth? Such simple
minded cravings for revenge leave me with a horrified but reluctant awe for such single
minded and merciless ferocity."
— Richard Francis Burton

The men were wild as ourang-outans, and the women fit only to flog cattle. — Richard Francis Burton

I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and the strokes of my sabre were rendered uncertain by the energetic pushes of an attendant who thus hoped to save me. — Richard Francis Burton

I'd like to be born the son of a duke with 90,000 pounds a year, on an enormous estate ... And I'd like to have the most enormous library, and I'd like to think that I could read those books forever and forever, and die unlamented, unknown, unsung, unhonored - and packed with information. — Richard Francis Burton

Wherever we halted we were surrounded by wandering troops of Bedouins. — Richard Francis Burton

Man remembers and combines but does not create. — Richard Francis Burton

All faith is false, all faith is true. Truth is the shattered mirror strown in myriad bits, while each believes his little bit the whole to own. — Richard Francis Burton

The wise do not argue therefrom, that the desires of the woman, as long as she is young and strong, are not as real and urgent of those of the man. — Richard Francis Burton

When doctors differ who decides amid the milliard-headed throng? — Richard Francis Burton

How melancholy a thing is success. Whilst failure inspirits a man, attainment reads the sad prosy lesson that all our glories "Are shadows, not substantial things." Truly said the sayer, "disappointment is the salt of life" a salutary bitter which strengthens the mind for fresh exertion, and gives a double value to the prize. — Richard Francis Burton

The dearest ambition of a slave is not liberty, but to have a slave of his own. — Richard Francis Burton

Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares and the slavery of Civilization, man feels once more happy. — Richard Francis Burton

Ah! gay the day with shine of sun,
and bright the breeze, and blithe the
throng
Met on the River-bank to play,
when I was young, when I was young — Richard Francis Burton

The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself. — Richard Francis Burton

Do what thy manhood bids thee do,
from none but self expect applause.
He noblest lives and noblest dies
who makes and keeps his self-made laws. — Richard Francis Burton

All so-called revealed religions consist mainly of three portions, a cosmogony more or less mythical, a history more or less falsified, and a moral code more or less pure. — Richard Francis Burton

Cease, man, to mourn, to weep, to wail;
Enjoy thy shining hour of sun;
We dance along Death's icy brink,
But is the dance less full of fun? — Richard Francis Burton

[ ... ] it is not easy to talk [ ... ] religion to men who measure excellence by forbidden meats [ ... ] — Richard Francis Burton

The Now, that indivisible point which studs the length of infinite line Whose ends are nowhere, is thine all , the puny all thou callest thine. — Richard Francis Burton

One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another. — Richard Francis Burton

For each believes his glimm'ering lamp to be the gorgeous light of day. — Richard Francis Burton

If you can't laugh together in bed, the chances are you are incompatible, anyway. I'd rather hear a girl laugh well than try to turn me on with long, silent, soulful, secret looks. If you can laugh with a woman, everything else falls into place. — Richard Francis Burton

Friends of my youth, a last adieu! Haply some day we meet again:
Ye ne'er the self-same men shall meet; the years shall make us other men. — Richard Francis Burton

Broke is a temporary condition, poor is a state of mind. — Richard Francis Burton

Do what thy manhood bids thee do. — Richard Francis Burton

Reason is Life's sole arbiter, themagic Laby'rinth's single clue ... — Richard Francis Burton

Between 2 and 3 in the morning of the 19th inst. I was aroused by the cry that the enemy was upon us. — Richard Francis Burton

Conquer thyself, till thou has done this, thou art but a slave; for it is almost as well to be subjected to another's appetite as to thine own. — Richard Francis Burton

Support a compatriot against a native, however the former may blunder or plunder. — Richard Francis Burton

Shaking off, with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy. — Richard Francis Burton