Words of Wisdom — March 27, 2015

Sir Richard Francis Burton: Man Worships Only Himself

Sir Richard Francis Burton, famed 19th century explorer, on world religions: “The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.”

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Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) was a famed British explorer, writer, translator, diplomat, and spy. Burton traveled extensively throughout Asia, Africa, and the Americas, often taking part in perilous adventures. Among Burton’s most well-known qualities was his extensive knowledge of languages and cultures. It is said that he was fluent in as many as 25 languages ranging from English, French, and Greek to Urdu, Icelandic, and Swahili.

“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.”

Source: Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night (1885) Terminal Essay: Social Conditions, fn. 13. [Wikiquote]

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