Ben Jonson quotes - page 6

The covetous man never has money the prodigal will have none shortly. (Ben Jonson)
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. View quote
Ben Jonson
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. View quote
Ben Jonson
Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak, and to speak well, are two things. View quote
Ben Jonson
Come my Celia, let us prove, While we can, the sports of love; Time will not be ours forever, He at length our good will sever. View quote
Ben Jonson
Why should we defer our joys? Fame and rumour are but toys. View quote
Ben Jonson
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. View quote
Ben Jonson
For though the poet's matter nature be, His art doth give the fashion. And that he Who casts to write a living line, must sweat. View quote
Ben Jonson
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. View quote
Ben Jonson
And though thou hadst small Latin, and less Greek. View quote
Ben Jonson
Apes are apes, though clothed in scarlet. (Ben Jonson)
Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue. View quote
Ben Jonson
Ill fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not. View quote
Ben Jonson
This is the very womb and bed of enormity. View quote
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, And art alive still, while thy book doth live, And we have wits to read, and praise to give. View quote
Ben Jonson
I have been at my book, and am now past the craggy paths of study, and come to the flowery plains of honour and reputation. View quote
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. View quote
Ben Jonson
Follow a shadow, it still flies you,Seem to fly it, it will pursue.So court a mistress, she denies youLet her alone, she will court you.Say, are not women truly, thenStyled but the shadows of us men. View quote
Ben Jonson
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. View quote
Ben Jonson
The Devil is an Ass! fool'd off! and beaten! View quote
Ben Jonson
'Triumph, my Britain, thou hast one to show To whom all Scenes of Europe homage owe. He was not of an age, but for all time! And all the muses still were in their prime, When, like Apollo, he came forth to warm Our ears, or like a Mercury to charm! Nature herself was proud of his designs, And joy'd to wear the dressing of his lines! Which were so richly spun, and woven so sit, As, since she will vouchsafe no other wit. (Ben Jonson)