Quotes by Richard Francis Burton

About Richard Francis Burton:

Sir Richard Francis Burton was a British explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer, and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian and African languages.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Support a compatriot against a native, however the former may blunder or plunder.

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

Wherever we halted we were surrounded by wandering troops of Bedouins.

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 Civilizatio...

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, u...

Richard Francis Burton

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

Richard Francis Burton

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

Richard Francis Burton

One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another.

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

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

Author Bio

  • NameRichard Francis Burton
  • DescriptionBritish explorer, writer and adventurer
  • AliasesSir Richard Burton; Richard F. Burton
  • BornMarch 19, 1821
  • DiedOctober 20, 1890
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionTranslator; Explorer; Writer; Poet; Diplomat; Soldier; Ethnologist; Linguist; Cartographer; Historian
  • AwardsKnight Commander Of The Order Of St Michael And St George; Knight Commander Of The Order Of St Michael And St George