Men 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.
BEN JONSONWere Guilt is, Rage and Courage doth abound.
More Ben Jonson Quotes
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Blueness doth express trueness.
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The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.
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Art hath an enemy call’d ignorance .
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.
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Good men but see death, the wicked taste it.
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How Fortune piles her sports when she begins to practise them!
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Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer.
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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
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It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.
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The two chief things that give a man reputation in counsel, are the opinion of his honesty, and the opinion of his wisdom; the authority of those two will persuade.
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Cut Men’s throats with whisperings.
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If you succeed not, cast not away the quills yet, nor scratch the wainscot, beat not the poor desk, but bring all to the forge and file again; turn it new.
BEN JONSON -
Prevent your day at morning.
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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 -
Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.
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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 -
Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten, but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction.
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Follow 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?
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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.
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When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.
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How near to good is what is fair!
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I know no disease of the soul but ignorance, a pernicious evil, the darkener of man’s life, the disturber of his reason, and common confounder of truth.
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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?
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There is no doctrine will do good where nature is wanting.
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To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure.
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The voice so sweet, the words so fair, As some soft chime had stroked the air; And though the sound had parted thence, Still left an echo in the sense.
BEN JONSON