Robert Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy is one of the best books I’ve read. Every page has quote-worthy material. And it’s not all about melancholy-it’s about everything, all at once. I know it’s too literary for some, but I would like everyone to give it a shot.

Anyway, here is a sampling of lines that most spoke to me and I think would speak to other autodidacts and bibliophiles.

I am not poor, I am not rich; _nihil est, nihil deest_, I have little, I want nothing: all my treasure is in Minerva’s tower. [Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom so her tower would be of the ivory sort.]

it is a kind of policy in these days, to prefix a fantastical title to a book which is to be sold; for, as larks come down to a day-net, many vain readers will tarry and stand gazing like silly passengers at an antic picture in a painter’s shop, that will not look at a judicious piece.

I have lived a silent, sedentary, solitary, private life, _mihi et musis_ [for myself and my studies]

I had a great desire (not able to attain to a superficial skill in any) to have some smattering in all, to be _aliquis in omnibus, nullus in singulis_, [a somebody in general knowledge, a nobody in any one subject] which Plato commends, out of him Lipsius approves and furthers, “as fit to be imprinted in all curious wits, not to be a slave of one science, or dwell altogether in one subject, as most do, but to rove abroad, _centum puer artium_, [one who can turn his hand to anything] to have an oar in every man’s boat, to taste of every dish, and sip of every cup,” which, saith Montaigne, was well performed by Aristotle, and his learned countryman Adrian Turnebus. This roving humour (though not with like success) I have ever had, and like a ranging spaniel, that barks at every bird he sees, leaving his game, I have followed all, saving that which I should, and may justly complain, and truly, _qui ubique est, nusquam est_, [he who is everywhere is nowhere] which Gesner did in modesty, that I have read many books, but to little purpose, for want of good method; I have confusedly tumbled over divers authors in our libraries, with small profit, for want of art, order, memory, judgment. I never travelled but in map or card, in which mine unconfined thoughts have freely expatiated, as having ever been especially delighted with the study of Cosmography.