Quotes from John Aubrey

He [William Harvey] did not care for chymistrey, and was wont to speake against them with an undervalue.

The silver Thames takes some part of this county in its journey to Oxford.

Mr. William Shakespeare was born at Stratford upon Avon in the County of Warwick. His father was a butcher, and I have been told heretofore by some of the neighbors, that when he was a boy he exercised his father's trade, but when he killed a calf he would do it in a high style and make a speech.

I have heard him [William Harvey] say, that after his book of the circulation of the blood came out, that he fell mightily in his practice, and that 'twas believed by the vulgar that he was crack-brained; and all the physicians were against his opinion.

He [John Milton] was so fair that they called him the Lady of Christ's College.

He [Thomas Hobbes] had read much, if one considers his long life; but his contemplation was more than his reading. He was wont to say that if he had read as much as other men, he should have known no more than other men.

How these curiosities would be quite forgot, did not such idle fellowes as I put them down.

I have been in danger of being drowned twice.

There is to some men a great Lechery in Lying, and imposing on the understandings of beleeving people.

The astrologers and historians write that the ascendant as of Oxford is Capricornus, whose lord is Saturn, a religious planet, and patron of religious men.

If Solomon counts the day of one's death better than the day of one's birth, there can be no objection why that also may not be reckoned amongst one's remarkable and happy days.

This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart.

As he lay expiring in the agony of death, the standers-by could hear him say softly 'I have seen the glories of the world.

Writing is, among things, the place where we can help ourselves cope with the dark parts of our living

How these curiosities would be quite forgott, did not such idle fellowes as I am putt them downe!

Box about: 'twill come to my father anon.