Ben Jonson Quotes - Page 6

Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician.

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?

When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.

Sweet meat must have sour sauce.

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.

It is an art to have so much judgment as to apparel a lie well, to give it a good dressing.

Who casts to write a living line, must sweat.

For whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such, As what he loves may never like too much.

Art hath an enemy call'd ignorance .

He that would have his virtue published, is not the servant of virtue, but glory.

Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco.

Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.

The soul of man is infinite in what it covets.

It is a note Of upstart greatness to observe and watch For these poor trifles, which the noble mind Neglects and scorns.

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

Nor shall our cups make any guilty men; But at our parting, we will be, as when We innocently met.

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

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.

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 application Of the malicious, ignorant, and base Interpreter; who will distort and strain The general scope and purpose of an author To his particular and private spleen.

All concord's born of contraries.

All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome

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.

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.

A good man should and must Sit rather down with loss than rise unjust.

Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.