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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.

Ben Jonson

Aristotle was the first accurate critic and truest judge nay, the greatest philosopher the world ever had; for he noted the vices of all knowledges, in all creatures, and out of many men’s perfections in a science he formed still one Art.
BEN JONSON

Art Judging Men
I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground Upon my flesh t’inflict another wound. Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death With holy Paul; lest it be thought the breath Of discontent; or that these prayers be For weariness of life, not love of thee.
BEN JONSON

Another Grief Prayer Weariness Wish Wound
The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.
BEN JONSON

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

Glory Servant Virtue
He threatens many that hath injured one.
BEN JONSON

Crime Injured Threaten
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.
BEN JONSON

Mean Remembrance Rich World
The voice so sweet, the words so fair, As some soft chime had stroked the air; And though the sound had parted thence, Still left an echo in the sense.
BEN JONSON

Air Echoes Parted Sweet Thence
Poets are far rarer birds than kings.
BEN JONSON

Bird Kings Poet
No man so wise that he may not easily err if he takes no other counsel than his own. He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
BEN JONSON

Easily May Men Taught Wise
That I might live alone once with my gold! O, ’tis a sweet companion! kind and true: A man may trust it when his father cheats him, Brother, or friend, or wife. O wondrous pelf! That which makes all men false, is true itself.
BEN JONSON

Alone Brother Companions Money Sweet
Freedom doth with degree dispense.
BEN JONSON

Degree Dispense Freedom
He who is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
BEN JONSON

Art Fool Inspirational
The world knows only two, that’s Rome and I.
BEN JONSON

Conceited Fools Rome Two
Still may syllables jar with time, Still may reason war with rhyme, Resting never!
BEN JONSON

May Poetry War
A good life is a main argument.
BEN JONSON

Argument Good Inspirational Life
For they have the authority of years, and out of their intermission do win to themselves a kind of grace-like newness. But the eldest of the present, and newest of the past Language, is the best.
BEN JONSON

Intermission Newest Present Themselves
Many might go to heaven with half the labour they go to hell, if they would venture their industry the right way.
BEN JONSON

Half Heaven Venture
Silence in woman is like speech in man.
BEN JONSON

Men Silence Speech
I do honor the very flea of his dog.
BEN JONSON

Dog Hero Honor
If men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man’s being a good poet without first being a good man.
BEN JONSON

Good Man Men Office
I have no urns, no dusty monuments; No broken images of ancestors, Wanting an ear, or nose; no forged tales Of long descents, to boast false honors from.
BEN JONSON

Broken Honor Long
The way to rise is to obey and please.
BEN JONSON

Please Success Way
God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man’s dearer than to himself.
BEN JONSON

Men Strange Wrecks
Sweet meat must have sour sauce.
BEN JONSON

Meat Swans Sweet
The man that is once hated, both his good and his evil deeds oppress him.
BEN JONSON

Evil Hate Men Oppress
He that departs with his own honesty For Vulgar , doth it too dearly buy.
BEN JONSON

Honesty Vulgar
Language most shows a man, speak that I may see thee.
BEN JONSON

Leadership May Men

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.

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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.

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Popular Authors

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