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I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.

Ben Jonson

[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.
BEN JONSON

Conceited English Plain Play
Reader look, not on his picture but his book.
BEN JONSON

Book Looks Reader
Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.
BEN JONSON

Good Ready Writing
Now we are all fallen, youth from their fear, And age from that which bred it, good example.
BEN JONSON

Age Example Fallen Good Youth
A good man will avoid the spot of any sin. The very aspersion is grievous, which makes him choose his way in his life, as he would in his journey.
BEN JONSON

Aspersion Choose Good Journey Men
Words borrowed of Antiquity do lend a kind of Majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes.
BEN JONSON

Past Winning Years
Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.
BEN JONSON

Art Men Monsters
The poet is the nearest borderer upon the orator.
BEN JONSON

Orators Oratory Poet
In the hope to meet Shortly again, and make our absence sweet.
BEN JONSON

Absence Hope Love Miss Sweet
A good life is a main argument.
BEN JONSON

Argument Good Inspirational Life
… the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.
BEN JONSON

Anchors Needs Sea
True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.
BEN JONSON

Friendship Happiness Positive
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
Art hath an enemy call’d ignorance .
BEN JONSON

Art Enemy Ignorance
Woman, the more careful she is about her face, the more careless about her house.
BEN JONSON

Faces Home House
Sweet Swan of Avon! What a sight it were To see thee in our water yet appear.
BEN JONSON

Sight Swans Sweet

I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.

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I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.

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Popular Authors

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