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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

Whom hatred frights, let him not dream of sovereignty.
BEN JONSON

Dream Hate Hatred
One woman reads another’s character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering
BEN JONSON

Character Trouble Women
Were Guilt is, Rage and Courage doth abound.
BEN JONSON

Guilt Guilty Shame
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
Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer.
BEN JONSON

Beast Flattery Tyrant
Still to be neat, still to be drest, As you were going to a feast, Still to be powder’d, all perfum’d. Lady, it is to be presumed, Though art’s hid causes are not found, All is not sweet, all is not sound.
BEN JONSON

Art Causes Drest Near Sweet
Force works on servile natures, not the free.
BEN JONSON

Force Free Nature Servile
Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.
BEN JONSON

Ambition Inspiration Looks
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.
BEN JONSON

Morning Regret Simple
What excellent fools religion makes of men.
BEN JONSON

Men Religion Religious
Success hath made me wanton.
BEN JONSON

Hath Made Success Wanton
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.
BEN JONSON

Mischief Past Virtue
I’ll give anything for a good copy now, be it true or false, so it be news.
BEN JONSON

False Giving News True
Forbear, you things That stand upon the pinnacles of state, To boast your slippery height! when you do fall, You dash yourselves in pieces, ne’er to rise: And he that lends you pity, is not wise.
BEN JONSON

Boast Fall Pieces Wise
Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times.
BEN JONSON

Good Time Illustrate Men Stars
Woman, the more careful she is about her face, the more careless about her house.
BEN JONSON

Faces Home House

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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