Ben Jonson Quotes

Where it concerns himself, Who's angry at a slander, makes it true.

[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.

Success hath made me wanton.

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.

What excellent fools religion makes of men.

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.

Fortune, that favors fools.

A good dog deserves a good bone.

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.

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

The burnt child dreads the fire.

Sweet meat must have sour sauce.

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

Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need

All concord's born of contraries.

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.

He threatens many that hath injured one.

All the wise world is little else, in nature, But parasites or subparasites.

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.

No simple word That shall be uttered at our mirthful board, Shall make us sad next morning; or affright The liberty that we'll enjoy to-night.

Cut Men's throats with whisperings.

There is no bounty to be showed to such As have real goodness: Bounty is A spice of virtue; and what virtuous act Can take effect on them that have no power Of equal habitude to apprehend it?

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.

The soul of man is infinite in what it covets.

The world knows only two, that's Rome and I.

O! How vain and vile a passion is this fear! What base uncomely things it makes men do.

Let those that merely talk and never think, That live in the wild anarchy of drink

A good poet's made as well as born.

... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.

How near to good is what is fair!

He that departs with his own honesty For Vulgar , doth it too dearly buy.

How Fortune piles her sports when she begins to practise them!

Good men but see death, the wicked taste it.

The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.

Fear to do base, unworthy things is valor; if they be one to us, to suffer them is valor too.

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

Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.

Silence in woman is like speech in man.

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

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.

For he that once is good, is ever great.

They, who know no evil, will suspect none.

One woman reads another's character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering

A good life is a main argument.

To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure.

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.

I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue.

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

He that is respectless in his courses oft sells his reputation at cheap market.

Soul of the age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage!