Opinion is a light, vain, crude, and imperfect thing.
BEN JONSONMen that talk of their own benefits are not believed to talk of them because they have done them, but to have done them because they might talk of them.
More Ben Jonson Quotes
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Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.
BEN JONSON -
Money never made any man rich, but his mind. He that can order himself to the law of nature, is not only without the sense, but the fear of poverty.
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 JONSON -
It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us.
BEN JONSON -
Poor worms, they hiss at me, whilst I at home Can be contented to applaud myself, . . . with joy To see how plump my bags are and my barns.
BEN JONSON -
Language most shows a man, speak that I may see thee.
BEN JONSON -
A lily of a day Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night, It was the plant and flower of light. In small proportions we just beauties see, And in short measures life may perfect be.
BEN JONSON -
A new disease? I know not, new or old, but it may well be called poor mortals plague for, like a pestilence, it doth infect the houses of the brain till not a thought, or motion, in the mind, be free from the black poison of suspect.
BEN JONSON -
Memory, of all the powers of the mind, is the most delicate and frail.
BEN JONSON -
There 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 JONSON -
Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need
BEN JONSON -
Force works on servile natures, not the free.
BEN JONSON -
Silence in woman is like speech in man.
BEN JONSON -
Truth is man’s proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.
BEN JONSON -
Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.
BEN JONSON