Ben Jonson quotes

A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more careless about her house.

Ben Jonson

Soul of the Age!
The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage!
My Shakespeare, rise
I will not lodge thee by
Chaucer, or Spenser, or bid Beaumont lie
A little further, to make thee a room
Thou art a monument without a tomb.

Ben Jonson

Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco.

Ben Jonson

Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need.

Ben Jonson

Success produces confidence, confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins the reputation which accuracy had raised.

Ben Jonson

Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue.

Ben Jonson

I remember the players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare that in his writing (whatsoever he penned) he never blotted out a line. My answer hath been, 'Would he had blotted a thousand\'.

Ben Jonson

Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times.

Ben Jonson

O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!

Ben Jonson

Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak, and to speak well, are two things.

Ben Jonson

And though thou hadst small Latin, and less Greek.

Ben Jonson

He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.

Ben Jonson

This is the very womb and bed of enormity.

Ben Jonson

There was ever more in him to be praised than to be pardoned.

Ben Jonson

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.

Ben Jonson

He threatens many that hath injured one.

Ben Jonson

I have a humour,
I would not willingly be gulled.

Ben Jonson

In small proportions we just beauties see
And in short measures, life may perfect be.

Ben Jonson

Hang sorrow, care'll kill a cat.

Ben Jonson

Weigh the meaning and look not at the words.

Ben Jonson

Who casts to write a living line, must sweat.

Ben Jonson

To speak and to speak well, are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

Ben Jonson

Apes are apes, though clothed in scarlet.

Ben Jonson

She is Venus when she smiles
But she's Juno when she walks,
And Minerva when she talks.

Ben Jonson

Art hath an enemy called Ignorance.

Ben Jonson

There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.

Ben Jonson

Language most shows a man, speak that I may see thee.

Ben Jonson

Follow a shadow, it still flies you,
Seem to fly it, 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?

Ben Jonson

Drink today, and drown all sorrow
You shall perhaps not do it tomorrow
Best, while you have it, use your breath
There is no drinking after death.

Ben Jonson

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.

Ben Jonson

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.

Ben Jonson

He knows not his own strength that has not met adversity.

Ben Jonson

True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.

Ben Jonson

Vice Is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment.

Ben Jonson

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.

Ben Jonson