Discover a wealth of wisdom and insight from Ben Jonson through their most impactful and thought-provoking quotes and sayings. Expand your perspective with their inspiring words and share these beautiful Ben Jonson quote pictures with your friends and followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or your personal blog - all free of charge. We've compiled the top 216 Ben Jonson quotes for you to explore and share with others.

That I might live alone once with my gold!O, 'tis a sweet companion! kind and true:A man may trust it when his father cheats him,Brother, or friend, or wife. O wondrous pelf!That which makes all men false, is true itself. By Ben Jonson Gold Tis Companion Live Sweet

Many might go to heaven with half the labor they go to hell. By Ben Jonson Hell Heaven Half Labor

Whosoever loves not picture is injurious to truth, and all the wisdom of poetry. Picture is the invention of heaven, the most ancient and most akin to nature. It is itself a silent work, and always one and the same habit. By Ben Jonson Whosoever Truth Poetry Picture Loves

One woman reads another's character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering By Ben Jonson Deciphering Woman Reads Character Tedious

Queen and huntress, chaste and fair,Now the sun is laid to sleep,Seated in thy silver chair,State in wonted manner keep:Hesperus entreats thy light,Goddess excellently bright.Earth, let not thy envious shadeDare itself to interpose,Cynthia's shining orb was madeHeaven to clear when day did close:Bless us then with wished sight,Goddess excellently bright.Lay thy bow of pearl apart,And thy crystal-shining quiver,Give unto the flying hartSpace to breath, how short soever:Thou that mak'st a day of night-Goddess excellently bright. By Ben Jonson Thy Hesperus Bless Thou Excellently

I now think, Love is rather deaf, than blind, For else it could not be, That she, Whom I adore so much, should so slight me, And cast my love behind. By Ben Jonson Love Deaf Blind Adore Slight

In the hope to meetShortly again, and make our absence sweet. By Ben Jonson Sweet Hope Meetshortly Make Absence

You learn nothing about someone by the way they win the fight, you learn everything about the way they lose and keep coming back. By Ben Jonson Learn Fight Back Win Lose

Ods me I marle what pleasure or felicity they have in taking their roguish tobacco. It is good for nothing but to choke a man, and fill him full of smoke and embers. By Ben Jonson Ods Tobacco Marle Pleasure Felicity

THE greatest of English dramatists except Shakespeare, the first literary dictator and poet-laureate, a writer of verse, prose, satire, and criticism who most potently of all the men of his time affected the subsequent course of English letters: such was Ben Jonson, and as such his strong personality assumes an interest to us almost unparalleled, at least in his age. Ben Jonson came of the stock that was centuries after to give to the world Thomas Carlyle; for Jonson's grandfather was of Annandale, over the Solway, whence he By Ben Jonson English Jonson Shakespeare Ben Prose

Come, my Celia, let us prove, While we can, the sports of love, Time will not be ours for ever, He, at length, our good will sever; Spend not then his gifts in vain: Suns that set may rise again; But if once we lose this light, 'Tis with us perpetual night. Why should we defer our joys? Fame and rumour are but toys. By Ben Jonson Celia Time Spend Suns Tis

Well, I will scourge those apes, And to these courteous eyes oppose a mirror, As large as is the stage whereon we act; Where they shall see the time's deformity Anatomised in every nerve, and sinew, With constant courage, and contempt of fear. By Ben Jonson Anatomised Apes Mirror Act Nerve

When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity. By Ben Jonson Raised Friends Grief Enemies Posterity

It is a noteOf upstart greatness to observe and watchFor these poor trifles, which the noble mindNeglects and scorns. By Ben Jonson Trifles Scorns Noteof Upstart Greatness

The man that is once hated, both his good and his evil deeds oppress him. By Ben Jonson Hated Man Good Evil Deeds

I glory, more in the cunning purchase of my wealth than in the glad possession. By Ben Jonson Glory Possession Cunning Purchase Wealth

Forbear, you thingsThat stand upon the pinnacles of state,To boast your slippery height! when you do fall,You dash yourselves in pieces, ne'er to rise:And he that lends you pity, is not wise. By Ben Jonson Forbear Height Thingsthat Stand Pinnacles

If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you. By Ben Jonson True Boast Great Art Poverty

That old bald cheater, Time. By Ben Jonson Time Cheater Bald

If I freely may discoverWhat should please me in my lover,I would have her fair and witty,Savouring more of court than city;A little proud, but full of pity;Light and humorous in her toying,Oft building hopes, and soon destroying,Long, but sweet in the enjoying;Neither too easy nor to hard;All extremes I would have barr'd. By Ben Jonson Light City Proud Pity Hopes

All concord's born of contraries. By Ben Jonson Contraries Concord Born

A new disease? I know not, new or old, but it may well be called poor mortals plague for, like a pestilence, it doth infect the houses of the brain till not a thought, or motion, in the mind, be free from the black poison of suspect. By Ben Jonson Disease Pestilence Thought Motion Mind

No man is so foolish but may give another good counsel sometimes; and no man is so wise, but may easily err, if he will take no others counsel but his own. But very few men are wise by their own counsel; or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself had a fool to his master. By Ben Jonson Man Counsel Err Wise Foolish

To speak and to speak well, are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks. By Ben Jonson Things Speak Talk Speaks Fool

Whom hatred frights, let him not dream of sovereignty. By Ben Jonson Frights Sovereignty Hatred Dream

Greatness of name, in the father, ofttimes helps not forth, but overwhelms the son: They stand too near one another. The shadow kills the growth. By Ben Jonson Greatness Father Ofttimes Son Overwhelms

They say Princes learn no art truly, but the art of horsemanship. The reason is, the brave beast is no flatterer. He will throw a prince as soon as his groom. By Ben Jonson Art Horsemanship Learn Princes Prince

Folly often goes beyond her bounds, but impudence knows none. By Ben Jonson Folly Bounds Impudence

Sweet meat must have sour sauce. By Ben Jonson Sweet Sauce Meat Sour

Chance will not do the work. Chance sends the breeze;But if the pilot slumber at the helm,The very wind that wafts us tow'rds the portMay dash us on the shoals. The steersman's partIs vigilance, or blow it rough or smooth. By Ben Jonson Chance Work Breeze Shoals Sends

True happinessConsists not in the multitude of friends,But in the worth and choice. By Ben Jonson True Choice Happinessconsists Multitude Friendsbut

Whom the disease of talking still once posses-seth, he can never hold his peace. By Ben Jonson Possesseth Peace Disease Talking Hold

The world knows only two, that's Rome and I. By Ben Jonson Rome World

[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English. By Ben Jonson English Play Conceited Scurvy Plain

The best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle. By Ben Jonson Mariners Sails Anchor Tackle Pilots

Success produces confidence; confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins the reputation which accuracy had raised. By Ben Jonson Success Industry Raised Confidence Produces

God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man's dearer than to himself. By Ben Jonson God Shelf Wisheth Wreck Strange

Great honours are great burdens, but on whom They are cast with envy, he doth bear two loads. By Ben Jonson Burdens Envy Loads Great Honours

Soul of the age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage! By Ben Jonson Soul Age Delight Applause Stage

Where dost thou careless lie, Buried in ease and sloth? Knowledge that sleeps, doth die; And this security, It is the common moth, That eats on wits and arts, and oft destroys them both. By Ben Jonson Buried Lie Sloth Dost Thou

The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly. By Ben Jonson Money Covetous Man Shortly Prodigal

It strikes! one, two, Three, four, five, six. Enough, enough, dear watch, Thy pulse hath beat enough. Now sleep and rest; Would thou could'st make the time to do so too; I'll wind thee up no more. By Ben Jonson Strikes Thy Dear Watch Rest

A good man will avoid the spot of any sin. The very aspersion is grievous, which makes him choose his way in his life, as he would in his journey. By Ben Jonson Sin Good Man Avoid Spot

Confound these ancestors ... They've stolen our best ideas! By Ben Jonson Confound Ancestors Ideas Stolen

I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue. By Ben Jonson Justice Weakness Confess Virtue Compassion

A Song To CeliaDrink to me, only with thine eyes And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup, And I'll not look for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth ask a drink divine: But might I of Jove's nectar sup I would not change for thine.I sent thee late a rosy wreath, Not so much honouring thee As giving it a hope that there It could not withered be But thou thereon didst only breath And sent'st it back to me: Since, when it grows and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee. By Ben Jonson Song Mine Cup Wine Thee

I know no disease of the soul but ignorance, a pernicious evil, the darkener of man's life, the disturber of his reason, and common confounder of truth. By Ben Jonson Ignorance Evil Life Reason Truth

Follow a shadow, it still flies you, Seem to fly, it will pursue: So court a mistress, she denies you; Let her alone, she will court you. Say are not women truly, then, Styled but the shadows of us men? By Ben Jonson Court Follow Fly Pursue Mistress

Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer. By Ben Jonson Tyrant Flatterer Wild Beasts Preserve

The poet is the nearest borderer upon the orator. By Ben Jonson Orator Poet Nearest Borderer

Nothing is a courtesy unless it be meant us, and that friendly and lovingly. We owe no thanks to rivers that they carry our boats, or winds that they be favoring and fill our sails, or meats that they be nourishing; for these are what they are necessarily. Horses carry us, trees shade us; but they know it not. By Ben Jonson Lovingly Courtesy Meant Friendly Carry

Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I'll not look for wine. By Ben Jonson Drink Eyes Mine Wine Thine

Doing, a filthy pleasure is, and short; And done, we straight repent us of the sport: Let us not rush blindly on unto it, Like lustful beasts, that only know to do it: For lust will languish, and that heat decay, But thus, thus, keeping endless Holy-. By Ben Jonson Holy Short Sport Beasts Languish

Give me a look, give me a face, That makes simplicity a grace Robes loosely flowing, hair as free Such sweet neglect more taketh me Than all the adulteries of art: They strike mine eyes, but not my heart. By Ben Jonson Give Robes Face Flowing Hair

Let those that merely talk and never think, That live in the wild anarchy of drink By Ben Jonson Drink Talk Live Wild Anarchy

It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us. By Ben Jonson Estimation Holds Good Polity Outwardly

The day For whose returns, and many, all these pray; And so do I. By Ben Jonson Returns Pray Day

Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco. By Ben Jonson Tobacco Thou Lust Tawny Weed

Love that is ignorant and hatred have almost the same ends. By Ben Jonson Love Ends Ignorant Hatred

I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is groundUpon my flesh t'inflict another wound.Yet dare I not complain, or wish for deathWith holy Paul; lest it be thought the breathOf discontent; or that these prayers beFor weariness of life, not love of thee. By Ben Jonson Paul Complain Discontent Life Thee

Apes are apes, though clothed in scarlet. By Ben Jonson Scarlet Apes Clothed

A thankful man owes a courtesy ever; the unthankful but when he needs it. By Ben Jonson Thankful Man Owes Courtesy Unthankful

A good king is a public servant. By Ben Jonson Servant Good King Public

It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place, and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature. By Ben Jonson Wrong Place Person Nature Great

That praises are without reason lavished on the dead, and that the honours due only to are paid to antiquity, is a complaint likely to be always continued by those who, being able to add nothing to truth, hope for eminence from the heresies of paradox; or those who, being forced by disappointment upon consolatory expedients, are willing to hope from posterity what the present age refuses, and flatter themselves that the regard which is yet denied by envy will be at last bestowed by time. By Ben Jonson Hope Dead Antiquity Truth Paradox

The soul of man is infinite in what it covets. By Ben Jonson Covets Soul Man Infinite

The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins. By Ben Jonson Begins Pipe Marks Point Orangutan

Memory, of all the powers of the mind, is the most delicate and frail. By Ben Jonson Memory Mind Frail Powers Delicate

He that is respectless in his courses oft sells his reputation at cheap market. By Ben Jonson Market Respectless Oft Sells Reputation

The voice so sweet, the words so fair, As some soft chime had stroked the air; And though the sound had parted thence, Still left an echo in the sense. By Ben Jonson Sweet Fair Air Sense Voice

Hell itself must yield to industry. By Ben Jonson Hell Industry Yield

I have no urns, no dusty monuments;No broken images of ancestors,Wanting an ear, or nose; no forged talesOf long descents, to boast false honors from. By Ben Jonson Urns Monuments Ear Nose Descents

Who casts to write a living line, must sweat. By Ben Jonson Line Sweat Casts Write Living

Poets are far rarer birds than kings. By Ben Jonson Poets Kings Rarer Birds

He wil sooner lose his best friend, then his least jest. By Ben Jonson Friend Jest Wil Sooner Lose

Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a master. By Ben Jonson Council Teaching Men Wise Learned

Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man. By Ben Jonson Heaven Crosses Man Good Prepares

A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more careless about her house. By Ben Jonson Woman Face House Curious Commonly

A prince without letters is a Pilot without eyes. All his government is groping. By Ben Jonson Pilot Eyes Prince Letters Groping

To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure. By Ben Jonson Long Treasure Young Pleasure Life

No, I do know that I was born To age, misfortune, sickness, grief:But I will bear these with that scorn As shall not need thy false relief.Nor for my peace will I go far, As wanderers do, that still do roam;But make my strengths, such as they are, Here in my bosom, and at home. By Ben Jonson Misfortune Sickness Grief Age Roam

Now we are all fallen, youth from their fear, And age from that which bred it, good example. By Ben Jonson Fallen Youth Fear Good Age

Well, as he brews, so shall he drink. By Ben Jonson Brews Drink

Nothing is more short-lived than pride. By Ben Jonson Pride Shortlived

I have discovered that a famed familiarity in great ones is a note of certain usurpation on the less; for great and popular men feign themselves to be servants to others to make those slaves to them. By Ben Jonson Great Discovered Famed Familiarity Note

It is virtue that gives glory; that will endenizen a man everywhere. By Ben Jonson Glory Virtue Endenizen Man

Woman, the more careful she is about her face, the more careless about her house. By Ben Jonson Woman Face House Careful Careless

There was never a great genius without a touch of madness. By Ben Jonson Madness Great Genius Touch

Indeed there's a woundy luck in names. By Ben Jonson Woundy Luck

To men pressed by their wants all change is ever welcome. By Ben Jonson Men Pressed Change

He that would have his virtue published, is not the servant of virtue, but glory. By Ben Jonson Published Glory Virtue Servant

A good life is a main argument. By Ben Jonson Argument Good Life Main

Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something. By Ben Jonson Popular Men Monsters Create Strange

Your highest female grace is silence. By Ben Jonson Silence Highest Female Grace

And though thou hadst small Latin, and less Greek. By Ben Jonson Latin Greek Thou Hadst Small

There is no doctrine will do good where nature is wanting. By Ben Jonson Wanting Doctrine Good Nature

Opinion is a light, vain, crude, and imperfect thing. By Ben Jonson Vain Crude Opinion Light Thing

I do honour the very flea of his dog. By Ben Jonson Dog Honour Flea

Art hath an enemy called Ignorance. By Ben Jonson Ignorance Art Hath Enemy Called

They that know no evil will suspect none. By Ben Jonson Evil Suspect

How ready is heaven to those that pray! By Ben Jonson Pray Ready Heaven

Language most shews a man: Speak, that I may see thee. By Ben Jonson Speak Language Man Thee Shews

Cares that have entered once in the breast, will have whole possession of the rest. By Ben Jonson Cares Breast Rest Entered Possession

Our whole life is like a play. By Ben Jonson Play Life

Peace is never more than one thought away. By Ben Jonson Peace Thought

Custom is the most certain mistress of language, as the public stamp makes the current money. By Ben Jonson Custom Language Money Mistress Public

O! How vain and vile a passion is this fear! What base uncomely things it makes men do. By Ben Jonson Fear Vain Vile Passion Base

Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times By Ben Jonson Good Stars Live Times Men

No simple wordThat shall be uttered at our mirthful board,Shall make us sad next morning; or affrightThe liberty that we'll enjoy to-night. By Ben Jonson Morning Tonight Simple Wordthat Uttered

Nor shall our cups make any guilty men;But at our parting, we will be, as whenWe innocently met. By Ben Jonson Men Parting Met Cups Make

How Fortune piles her sports when she begins to practise them! By Ben Jonson Fortune Piles Sports Begins Practise

A good poet's made as well as born. By Ben Jonson Born Good Poet Made

For he that once is good, is ever great. By Ben Jonson Good Great

All the wise world is little else, in nature, But parasites or subparasites. By Ben Jonson Nature Subparasites Wise World Parasites

Success hath made me wanton. By Ben Jonson Success Wanton Hath Made

Tell troth and shame the devil. By Ben Jonson Devil Troth Shame

Get money, still get money, boy, no matter by what means. By Ben Jonson Money Boy Matter

The way to rise is to obey and please. By Ben Jonson Rise Obey

MOS: And besides, sir, You are not like a thresher that doth stand With a huge flail, watching a heap of corn, And, hungry, dares not taste the smallest grain, But feeds on mallows, and such bitter herbs; Nor like the merchant, who hath fill'd his vaults With Romagnia, and rich Candian wines, Yet drinks the lees of Lombard's vinegar: You will not lie in straw, whilst moths and worms Feed on your sumptuous hangings and soft beds; You know the use of riches, and dare give now From that bright heap, to me, your poor observer, Or to your dwarf, or your hermaphrodite, Your eunuch, or what other household-trifle Your pleasure allows maintenance. By Ben Jonson Mos Romagnia Heap Candian Lombard

True gladness doth not always speak; joy, bred and born but in the tongue, is weak. By Ben Jonson Joy True Speak Bred Tongue

All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome By Ben Jonson Impertinent Harsh Irksome Discourses Afflict

Fortune, that favors fools. By Ben Jonson Fortune Fools Favors

I do honor the very flea of his dog. By Ben Jonson Dog Honor Flea

Tis no sin love's fruits to steal; But the sweet thefts to reveal; To be taken, to be seen, These have crimes accounted been. By Ben Jonson Tis Steal Reveal Sin Love

In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be. By Ben Jonson Measures Life Small Proportions Beauties

Ambition, like a torrent, ne'er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a rebel Unto the soul and reason, and enforceth All laws, all conscience, treads upon religion, and offereth violence to nature's self. By Ben Jonson Ambition Torrent Neer Back Swelling

Sweet Swan of Avon! What a sight it wereTo see thee in our water yet appear. By Ben Jonson Avon Swan Sweet Sight Wereto

Poor worms, they hiss at me, whilst I at home Can be contented to applaud myself, ... with joy To see how plump my bags are and my barns. By Ben Jonson Poor Worms Whilst Barns Home

I remember, the players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing (whatsoever he penned) he never plotted out a line. My answer hath been, would he had blotted a thousand. By Ben Jonson Shakespeare Remember Writing Whatsoever Penned

Each petty handCan steer a ship becalm'd; but he that willGovern and carry her to her ends, must knowHis tides, his currents, how to shift his sails;What she will bear in foul, what in fair weathers;Where her springs are, her leaks, and how to stop 'em;What strands, what shelves, what rocks do threaten her. By Ben Jonson Becalm Ends Tides Currents Sails

Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never. By Ben Jonson Affliction Pray Prosperity Teacheth Wicked

Tis not the wholesome sharp mortality,Or modest anger of a satiric spirit,That hurts or wounds the body of a state,But the sinister applicationOf the malicious, ignorant, and baseInterpreter; who will distort and strainThe general scope and purpose of an authorTo his particular and private spleen. By Ben Jonson Ignorant Tis Malicious Baseinterpreter Spleen

If you succeed not, cast not away the quills yet, nor scratch the wainscot, beat not the poor desk, but bring all to the forge and file again; turn it new. By Ben Jonson Cast Wainscot Beat Desk Turn

As it is a great point of art, when our matter requires it, to enlarge and veer out all sail, so to take it in and contract it is of no less praise when the argument doth ask it. By Ben Jonson Art Sail Great Point Matter

Weigh the meaning and look not at the words. By Ben Jonson Weigh Words Meaning

It is an art to have so much judgment as to apparel a lie well, to give it a good dressing. By Ben Jonson Dressing Art Judgment Apparel Lie

Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause. By Ben Jonson Tis Minds Free Pause Applause

The burnt child dreads the fire. By Ben Jonson Fire Burnt Child Dreads

For a man to write well, there are required three necessaries: to read the best authors, observe the best speakers, and much exercise of his own style. By Ben Jonson Necessaries Authors Observe Speakers Style

Who will not judge him worthy to be robbed That sets his doors wide open to a thief, And shows the felon where his treasure lies? By Ben Jonson Thief Lies Judge Worthy Robbed

O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion! By Ben Jonson Engine Clocks Motion Back Make

Still to be neat, still to be drest,As you were going to a feast,Still to be powder'd, all perfum'd.Lady, it is to be presumed,Though art's hid causes are not found,All is not sweet, all is not sound. By Ben Jonson Neat Powder Sweet Sound Drestas

Passions are spiritual rebels and raise sedition against the understanding. By Ben Jonson Passions Understanding Spiritual Rebels Raise

Money never made any man rich, but his mind. He that can order himself to the law of nature, is not only without the sense, but the fear of poverty. By Ben Jonson Money Rich Mind Made Man

There is no bounty to be showed to suchAs have real goodness: Bounty isA spice of virtue; and what virtuous actCan take effect on them that have no powerOf equal habitude to apprehend it? By Ben Jonson Bounty Goodness Virtue Showed Suchas

How near to good is what is fair! By Ben Jonson Fair Good

A valiant man Ought not to undergo, or tempt a danger, But worthily, and by selected ways, He undertakes with reason, not by chance. His valor is the salt t' his other virtues, They're all unseason'd without it. By Ben Jonson Undergo Danger Worthily Reason Chance

Calumnies are answered best with silence. By Ben Jonson Calumnies Silence Answered

I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavored to belie me.-It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions. By Ben Jonson Calumny Actions Beholden Hath Endeavored

Good men but see death, the wicked taste it. By Ben Jonson Good Death Men Wicked Taste

Aristotle was the first accurate critic and truest judge nay, the greatest philosopher the world ever had; for he noted the vices of all knowledges, in all creatures, and out of many men's perfections in a science he formed still one Art. By Ben Jonson Art Aristotle Nay Knowledges Creatures

Still may syllables jar with time,Still may reason war with rhyme,Resting never! By Ben Jonson Syllables Jar Timestill Reason War

Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee By Ben Jonson Language Man Speak Thee Shows

Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue. By Ben Jonson Mischief Virtue Call Past Prospered

And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow'd them with her odorous foot. By Ben Jonson Root Foot Flowers Thickest Sow

We are persons of quality, I assure you, and women of fashion, and come to see and to be seen. By Ben Jonson Quality Fashion Persons Assure Women

Silence in woman is like speech in man. By Ben Jonson Silence Man Woman Speech

Cut Men's throats with whisperings. By Ben Jonson Men Cut Whisperings Throats

The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting. By Ben Jonson Protesting Dignity Truth Lost

He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity. By Ben Jonson Adversity Strength Hath Met

True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit. By Ben Jonson True Wit Melancholy Breeds Perfect

I perceive affection makes a fool Of any man too much the father. By Ben Jonson Father Perceive Affection Makes Fool

Reader look, not on his picture but his book. By Ben Jonson Reader Book Picture

Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private. By Ben Jonson Spread Publicly Private Bosom Heart

I am now past the craggy paths of study, and come to the flowery plains of honor and reputation. By Ben Jonson Study Reputation Past Craggy Paths

Where it concerns himself, Who's angry at a slander, makes it true. By Ben Jonson Slander Makes True Concerns Angry

It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not. By Ben Jonson Imperfectly Dishonor Hear Speak Excused

Nor use too swelling, or ill-sounded words ... By Ben Jonson Swelling Words Illsounded

What excellent fools religion makes of men. By Ben Jonson Men Excellent Fools Religion Makes

Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing. By Ben Jonson Writing Ready Good Makes Brings

He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master. By Ben Jonson Master Taught Fool

Freedom doth with degree dispense. By Ben Jonson Freedom Dispense Doth Degree

Truth is man's proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use. By Ben Jonson Truth Good Man Proper Immortal

Wine it is the milk of Venus, And the poet's horse accounted: Ply it and you all are mounted. By Ben Jonson Venus Ply Wine Accounted Mounted

If men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man's being a good poet without first being a good man. By Ben Jonson Good Impartially Asquint Poet Man

Who falls for love of God, shall rise a star. By Ben Jonson God Star Falls Love Rise

Riches are in fortune A greater good than wisdom is in nature. By Ben Jonson Riches Nature Fortune Greater Good

Ill fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not. By Ben Jonson Ill Fortune Crushed Man Good

Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back. By Ben Jonson Ambition Torrent Back

Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed. By Ben Jonson Mischiefs Feed Beasts Till Fat

Thy praise or dispraise is to me alike; One doth not stroke me, nor the other strike. By Ben Jonson Thy Alike Strike Praise Dispraise

This is the very womb and bed of enormity. By Ben Jonson Enormity Womb Bed

Talking is the disease of age. By Ben Jonson Talking Age Disease

For this I find, where jealousy is fed,Horns in the mind are worse than on the head. By Ben Jonson Find Head Jealousy Fedhorns Mind

He threatens many that hath injured one. By Ben Jonson Threatens Hath Injured

He was not of an age, but for all time! By Ben Jonson Age Time

Court a mistress, she denies you; let her alone, she will court you. By Ben Jonson Mistress Court Denies

Art hath an enemy call'd ignorance . By Ben Jonson Art Ignorance Hath Enemy Call

Honor's a good brooch to wear in a man's hat at all times. By Ben Jonson Honor Times Good Brooch Wear

There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear. By Ben Jonson Fear Greater Hell Prisoner

Force works on servile natures, not the free. By Ben Jonson Force Natures Free Works Servile

Princes that would their people should do wellMust at themselves begin, as at the head;For men, by their example, pattern outTheir limitations, and regard of laws:A virtuous court a world to virtue draws. By Ben Jonson Princes Begin Head Men Pattern

Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten, but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction. By Ben Jonson Books Repositories Forgotten Instruction Faithful

CORV: Honour! tut, a breath: There's no such thing, in nature: a mere term Invented to awe fools. By Ben Jonson Corv Honour Tut Invented Breath

Words borrowed of antiquity do lend a kind of majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes. By Ben Jonson Words Style Borrowed Antiquity Lend

The Devil is an Ass , I do acknowledge it. By Ben Jonson Ass Devil Acknowledge

Where guilty is, rage and courage doth abound. By Ben Jonson Rage Abound Guilty Courage Doth

For whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such, As what he loves may never like too much. By Ben Jonson Henceforth Sake Vows Loves

It is the highest of earthly honors to be descended from the great and good. They alone cry out against a noble ancestry who have none of their own. By Ben Jonson Good Highest Earthly Honors Descended

Vice Is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment. By Ben Jonson Vice Mind Punishment Fury Vicious

If you be sick, your own thoughts make you sick. By Ben Jonson Sick Thoughts Make

Man and wife make one fool. By Ben Jonson Man Fool Wife Make

Rich apparel has strange virtues; it makes him that hath it without means esteemed for an excellent wit; he that enjoys it with means puts the world in remembrance of his means. By Ben Jonson Rich Virtues Wit Apparel Strange

Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician. By Ben Jonson Cases Physician Punishments Discredit Prince

Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak, and to speak well, are two things. By Ben Jonson Speak Talking Things Eloquence

AMBITION MAKES MORE TRUSTY SLAVES THAN NEED By Ben Jonson Ambition Makes Trusty Slaves

Men that talk of their own benefits are not believed to talk of them because they have done them, but to have done them because they might talk of them. By Ben Jonson Talk Men Benefits Believed

Riches, the dumb god that giv'st all men tongues, / That canst do nought, and yet mak'st men do all things; / The price of souls; even hell, with thee to boot, / Is made worth heaven! By Ben Jonson Riches Tongues Nought Things Souls

My thoughts and I were of another world. By Ben Jonson World Thoughts

A good man should and must Sit rather down with loss than rise unjust. By Ben Jonson Sit Unjust Good Man Loss

Out of clothes out of countenance, out of countenance out of wit. By Ben Jonson Countenance Wit Clothes

I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence. By Ben Jonson Eloquence Plain Downright Wisdom Foolish

'Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end. By Ben Jonson Tis Entreated End Common Disease

Prevent your day at morning. By Ben Jonson Prevent Morning Day

The two chief things that give a man reputation in counsel, are the opinion of his honesty, and the opinion of his wisdom; the authority of those two will persuade. By Ben Jonson Opinion Counsel Honesty Wisdom Persuade

He that departs with his own honesty For Vulgar , doth it too dearly buy. By Ben Jonson Vulgar Doth Buy Departs Honesty