John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
2105 Robert Burton 1577-1640 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 2105 |
| AUTHOR: | Robert Burton (1577–1640) |
| QUOTATION: | We can say nothing but what hath been said. 1 Our poets steal from Homer…. Our story-dressers do as much; he that comes last is commonly best. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Anatomy of Melancholy. Democritus to the Reader. |
| Note 1. Nihil dictum quod non dictum prius (There is nothing said which has not been said before).—Terence: Eunuchus, Prol. 10. [back] |