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All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome

Ben Jonson

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
I glory, more in the cunning purchase of my wealth than in the glad possession.
BEN JONSON

Glory Greed Wealth
Fortune, thou hadst no deity, if men Had wisdom.
BEN JONSON

Fortune Men
A good poet’s made as well as born.
BEN JONSON

Born Made Poet
I remember, the players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing (whatsoever he penned) he never plotted out a line. My answer hath been, would he had blotted a thousand.
BEN JONSON

Answer Lines Mention Penend Player Writing
Sweet meat must have sour sauce.
BEN JONSON

Meat Swans Sweet
There is no doctrine will do good where nature is wanting.
BEN JONSON

Creeds Doctrine Good Waiting
And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow’d them with her odorous foot.
BEN JONSON

Feet Flower Roots
Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer.
BEN JONSON

Beast Flattery Tyrant
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
As it is a great point of art, when our matter requires it, to enlarge and veer out all sail, so to take it in and contract it is of no less praise when the argument doth ask it.
BEN JONSON

Art Ask Matter Praise Style
Guilt’s a terrible thing.
BEN JONSON

Guilt Terrible Things
If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.
BEN JONSON

Art Being Poverty True
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
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
Let argument bear no unmusical sound.
BEN JONSON

Argument Bears Sound

All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome

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All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome

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