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Gilbert Burnet Quotes

Former Bishop of Salisbury

Gilbert Burnet (September 18, 1643 - March 17, 1715) was a prominent English bishop and historian, serving as the Bishop of Salisbury. He made significant contributions to the fields of history, theology, and literature, particularly known for his historical research on the English Reformation.

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All Ifs Kings Men Said Adventurer Afraid Of Death Age Allies Amusement Anecdotes

Famous Gilbert Burnet Quotes

“. . . for the most part the worst instructed, and the least knowing of any of their rank, I ever went amongst.”

Knowing Worst

Book:History of His Own Time: From the revolution to the conclusion of the treaty of peace at Utrecht, in the reign of Queen Anne : to which is added the author's life

Source: History of His Own Time: From the revolution to the conclusion of the treaty of peace at Utrecht, in the reign of Queen Anne : to which is added the author's life

“There is no lasting pleasure but contemplation; all others grow flat and insipid upon frequent use; and when a man hath run through a set of vanities, in the declension of his age, he knows not what to do with himself, if he cannot think; he saunters about from one dull business to another, to wear out time; and hath no reason to value Life but because he is afraid of death.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Men Reason Use Running Age Values Grows Pleasure Vanity Contemplation Dull No Reason Flats Lasting Afraid Of Death Insipid

Author:Gilbert Burnet

“Let us be adventurers for another world. It is at least a fair and noble chance; and there is nothing in this worth our thoughts or our passions. If we should be disappointed, we are still no worse than the rest of our fellow-mortals; and if we succeed in our expectations we are eternally happy.”

Ifs World Should Stills Passion Chance Succeed Expectations Fairs Eternity Fellows Noble Mortals Disappointed Our Thoughts Another World Adventurer

Author:Gilbert Burnet

“...learning chiefly in mathematical sciences can so swallow up and fix one's thought, as to possess it entirely for some time; but when that amusement is over, nature will return, and be where it was, being rather diverted than overcome by such speculations.”

Science Return Overcoming Observation Mathematical Biographies Speculation Amusement

Book:An Exposition of the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England

Source: An Exposition of the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England

“An anecdote is related of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper (1621-1683), who, in speaking of religion, said, "People differ in their discourse and profession about these matters, but men of sense are really but of one religion." To the inquiry of "What religion?" the Earl said, "Men of sense never tell it".”

People Men Said Matter Profession Related Discourse Inquiry Anecdotes Ashley

Author:Gilbert Burnet

“The Duke of Buckingham gave me once a short but severe character of the two brothers. It was the more severe, because it was true: the King (he said) could see things if he would, and the Duke would see things if he could.”

Ifs Said Two Character Brother Kings Severe Dukes Two Brothers

Book:Bishop Burnet's History of His Own Time: From the Restoration of K. Charles II to the Conclusion of the Treaty of Peace at Utrecht, in the Reign of Queen Anne. To which is Prefixed, a Summary Recapitulation of Affairs in Church and State, from King James I. to the Restoration in the Year 1660. Together with the Author's Life and Some Explanatory Notes

Source: Bishop Burnet's History of His Own Time: From the Restoration of K. Charles II to the Conclusion of the Treaty of Peace at Utrecht, in the Reign of Queen Anne. To which is Prefixed, a Summary Recapitulation of Affairs in Church and State, from King James I. to the Restoration in the Year 1660. Together with the Author's Life and Some Explanatory Notes

“One of the strangest catastrophes that is in any history. A great king, with strong armies and mighty fleets, a great treasure and powerful allies, fell all at once, and his whole strength, like a spider's web, was... irrecoverably broken at a touch.”

Whole Strong Powerful Broken Kings Army Treasure Allies Catastrophe Spiders

Book:Bishop Burnet's history of his own time

Source: Bishop Burnet's history of his own time

“The law of England is the greatest grievance of the nation, very expensive and dilatory.”

Law Nations England Expensive Grievance

Book:Bishop Burnet's History of His Own Time ...: From the revolution to the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace at Utrecht, in the reign of Queen Anne. To which is added, the author's life, by the editor

Source: Bishop Burnet's History of His Own Time ...: From the revolution to the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace at Utrecht, in the reign of Queen Anne. To which is added, the author's life, by the editor