If men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man’s being a good poet without first being a good man.
BEN JONSONIf men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man’s being a good poet without first being a good man.
BEN JONSONLet those that merely talk and never think, That live in the wild anarchy of drink
BEN JONSONNo simple word That shall be uttered at our mirthful board, Shall make us sad next morning; or affright The liberty that we’ll enjoy to-night.
BEN JONSONCares that have entered once in the breast, will have whole possession of the rest.
BEN JONSONWine it is the milk of Venus, And the poet’s horse accounted: Ply it and you all are mounted.
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 JONSONTell troth and shame the devil.
BEN JONSONMy thoughts and I were of another world.
BEN JONSONFor whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such, As what he loves may never like too much.
BEN JONSONTruth is man’s proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.
BEN JONSONA thankful man owes a courtesy ever; the unthankful but when he needs it.
BEN JONSONDrink today, and drown all sorrow; You shall perhaps not do it tomorrow; Best, while you have it, use your breath; There is no drinking after death.
BEN JONSONI do honor the very flea of his dog.
BEN JONSONOpinion is a light, vain, crude, and imperfect thing.
BEN JONSONForce works on servile natures, not the free.
BEN JONSONGod wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man’s dearer than to himself.
BEN JONSON