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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

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
True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.
BEN JONSON

Fine Melancholy Perfect Wit
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

Black Brain House
It is an art to have so much judgment as to apparel a lie well, to give it a good dressing.
BEN JONSON

Art Giving Lying
You learn nothing about someone by the way they win the fight, you learn everything about the way they lose and keep coming back.
BEN JONSON

Art Fighting Winning
All the wise world is little else, in nature, But parasites or subparasites.
BEN JONSON

Little Wise World
God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man’s dearer than to himself.
BEN JONSON

Men Strange Wrecks
Still to be neat, still to be drest, As you were going to a feast, Still to be powder’d, all perfum’d. Lady, it is to be presumed, Though art’s hid causes are not found, All is not sweet, all is not sound.
BEN JONSON

Art Causes Drest Near Sweet
Fear to do base, unworthy things is valor; if they be one to us, to suffer them is valor too.
BEN JONSON

Courage Suffering Valor
Nothing is more short-lived than pride.
BEN JONSON

Live Pride Short
A good dog deserves a good bone.
BEN JONSON

Bones Canine Dog
Confound these ancestors… They’ve stolen our best ideas!
BEN JONSON

Funny Humor Ideas
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

Home Joy
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 JONSON

Good Man Men Office
The world knows only two, that’s Rome and I.
BEN JONSON

Conceited Fools Rome Two
Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician.
BEN JONSON

Funeral Physicians Punishment
To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
BEN JONSON

Communication Motivational Wise
In the hope to meet Shortly again, and make our absence sweet.
BEN JONSON

Absence Hope Love Miss Sweet
A good king is a public servant.
BEN JONSON

Good King Kings Servant
Weigh the meaning and look not at the words.
BEN JONSON

Looks Meaning Weigh
I do honor the very flea of his dog.
BEN JONSON

Dog Hero Honor
The Devil is an Ass , I do acknowledge it.
BEN JONSON

Acknowledge Ass Devil
The man that is once hated, both his good and his evil deeds oppress him.
BEN JONSON

Evil Hate Men Oppress
Tis no sin love’s fruits to steal; But the sweet thefts to reveal; To be taken, to be seen, These have crimes accounted been.
BEN JONSON

Fruit Sweet Taken
It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.
BEN JONSON

Ears Speak Understanding
Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.
BEN JONSON

Beast Fats Mischief
Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need
BEN JONSON

Ambition Needs Slave

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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