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One woman reads another’s character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering

Ben Jonson

It is virtue that gives glory; that will endenizen a man everywhere.
BEN JONSON

Giving Men Virtue
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

Die Fall Flower Night Proportion
Freedom doth with degree dispense.
BEN JONSON

Degree Dispense Freedom
Wine it is the milk of Venus, And the poet’s horse accounted: Ply it and you all are mounted.
BEN JONSON

Horse Plies Wine
To struggle when hope is banished! To live when life’s salt is gone! To dwell in a dream that’s vanished- To endure, and go calmly on!
BEN JONSON

Dream Life Struggle Vanish
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
Where dost thou careless lie, Buried in ease and sloth? Knowledge that sleeps, doth die; And this security, It is the common moth, That eats on wits and arts, and oft destroys them both.
BEN JONSON

Art Common Lying Security Sleep
Love that is ignorant and hatred have almost the same ends.
BEN JONSON

Hate Hatred Ignorant
Honor’s a good brooch to wear in a man’s hat at all times.
BEN JONSON

Hate Honor Men Time
I do honor the very flea of his dog.
BEN JONSON

Dog Hero Honor
A thankful man owes a courtesy ever; the unthankful but when he needs it.
BEN JONSON

Gratitude Men Needs
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 JONSON

Benefits Done Men
Poets are far rarer birds than kings.
BEN JONSON

Bird Kings Poet
Who casts to write a living line, must sweat.
BEN JONSON

Lines Sweat Writing
Where it concerns himself, Who’s angry at a slander, makes it true.
BEN JONSON

Angry Concern Slander
Calumnies are answered best with silence.
BEN JONSON

Advice Silence

One woman reads another’s character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering

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One woman reads another’s character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering

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