Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I’ll not look for wine.
BEN JONSONDrink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I’ll not look for wine.
BEN JONSONIt is a note Of upstart greatness to observe and watch For these poor trifles, which the noble mind Neglects and scorns.
BEN JONSONOur whole life is like a play.
BEN JONSONTis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.
BEN JONSONHow Fortune piles her sports when she begins to practise them!
BEN JONSONFollow a shadow, it still flies you, Seem to fly, it will pursue: So court a mistress, she denies you; Let her alone, she will court you. Say are not women truly, then, Styled but the shadows of us men?
BEN JONSONGreat honours are great burdens, but on whom They are cast with envy, he doth bear two loads.
BEN JONSONIt is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.
BEN JONSONWho will not judge him worthy to be robbed That sets his doors wide open to a thief, And shows the felon where his treasure lies?
BEN JONSONIf all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.
BEN JONSONThere is no bounty to be showed to such As have real goodness: Bounty is A spice of virtue; and what virtuous act Can take effect on them that have no power Of equal habitude to apprehend it?
BEN JONSONThe dignity of truth is lost with much protesting.
BEN JONSONIt is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place, and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
BEN JONSONAll concord’s born of contraries.
BEN JONSONPopular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.
BEN JONSONHe that is respectless in his courses oft sells his reputation at cheap market.
BEN JONSON