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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]