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For a man to write well, there are required three necessaries: to read the best authors, observe the best speakers, and much exercise of his own style.

Ben Jonson

Whom the disease of talking still once posses-seth, he can never hold his peace.
BEN JONSON

Disease Talking
Our whole life is like a play.
BEN JONSON

Life Play Whole
Force works on servile natures, not the free.
BEN JONSON

Force Free Nature Servile
No man so wise that he may not easily err if he takes no other counsel than his own. He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
BEN JONSON

Easily May Men Taught Wise
No 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 JONSON

Morning Regret Simple
Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never.
BEN JONSON

Affliction Person Prayer Wicked
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

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

Giving Men Virtue
Love that is ignorant and hatred have almost the same ends.
BEN JONSON

Hate Hatred Ignorant
Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a master.
BEN JONSON

Men Teaching Wise
… the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.
BEN JONSON

Anchors Needs Sea
For he that once is good, is ever great.
BEN JONSON

Good Greatness Once
I have no urns, no dusty monuments; No broken images of ancestors, Wanting an ear, or nose; no forged tales Of long descents, to boast false honors from.
BEN JONSON

Broken Honor Long
Nor use too swelling, or ill-sounded words . . . .
BEN JONSON

Sounded Swelling Use Words
God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man’s dearer than to himself.
BEN JONSON

Men Strange Wrecks
Folly often goes beyond her bounds, but impudence knows none.
BEN JONSON

Folly Impudence Rudeness

For a man to write well, there are required three necessaries: to read the best authors, observe the best speakers, and much exercise of his own style.

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For a man to write well, there are required three necessaries: to read the best authors, observe the best speakers, and much exercise of his own style.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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