More from 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
Ben JonsonBen Jonson Vice Is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson 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.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson 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 JonsonBen Jonson 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.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson Whom hatred frights, let him not dream of sovereignty.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson It is the highest of earthly honors to be descended from the great and good. They alone cry out against a noble ancestry who have none of their own.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson 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.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson 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.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson Indeed there’s a woundy luck in names.
Ben JonsonBen 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.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson For a man to write well, there are required three necessaries: to read the best authors, observe the best speakers, and much exercise of his own style.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson Sweet meat must have sour sauce.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost parts of us, and is the image of the parent of it, the mind. No glass renders a man’s form or likeness so true as his speech.
Ben JonsonBen Jonson
Original quotes
From our community writers
Even with broken wings, she dares to fly. And even with a broken heart, she dares to love.
Divya khandalDivya khandal And I refuse to apologize until the very end for the way that I feel – my feelings are valid too.
Carmen AmadosCarmen Amados Contemplate your own mortality daily, then see how much we must change.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Poetry is the voice of the soul and the inspiration of the heart.
Teresa PeresTeresa Peres We parted sadly, like children in the street on a pleasant june afternoon.
Iestyn TudorIestyn Tudor And what shall I call you? Yours. In this life, the ones before, and all others thereafter.
Alexandra MichelleAlexandra Michelle If I could go back to a time I’d be with you. And I’d thank you again for almost being the healing to my heart.
Aimee C. HoveyAimee C. Hovey I was a living breathing nightmare and he was my favorite dream catcher.
Juwairiyyah OlgarJuwairiyyah Olgar
Meet the writers
More on favors
I know the world isn’t fair, but why isn’t it ever unfair in my favor?
Bill WattersonBill Watterson By disregarding intuition in favor of science, or science in favor of instincts, we limit ourselves.
Bernie SiegelBernie Siegel Biggest affirmative argument I know in favor of ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ is just the way you feel inside you that nothin’ can stop you from livin’ on.
Bess Streeter AldrichBess Streeter Aldrich Most people are in favor of change, as long as they can continue to do things the same as they always have.
Bill PhillipsBill Phillips to ask for anything of consequence from friends who cannot refuse is uncivilized.
Bette LordBette Lord Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one’s wit at the expense of one’s better nature.
Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu Friendship is an arrangement by which we undertake to exchange small favors for big ones.
Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu Natural selection, as it has operated in human history, favors not only the clever but the murderous.
Barbara EhrenreichBarbara Ehrenreich
