Ben Jonson Quotes - Page 7

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.

Now we are all fallen, youth from their fear, And age from that which bred it, good example.

To men pressed by their wants all change is ever welcome.

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.

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.

No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us.

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.

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.

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, And art alive still, while thy book doth live, And we have wits to read , and praise to give .

The Devil is an Ass , I do acknowledge it.

For he that once is good, is ever great.

Hang sorrow, care'll kill a cat.

You are not now to think what's best to do, As in beginnings, but what must be done, Being thus enter'd; and slip no advantage That may secure you. Let them call it mischief; When it is past, and prosper'd , 'twill be virtue.

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.

Reader look, not on his picture but his book.

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

The day For whose returns, and many, all these pray; And so do I.

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

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