“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”

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.

I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.

The Devil is an Ass , I do acknowledge it.

That old bald cheater, Time.

He that is respectless in his courses oft sells his reputation at cheap market.

Forbear, you things That stand upon the pinnacles of state, To boast your slippery height! when you do fall, You dash yourselves in pieces, ne’er to rise: And he that lends you pity, is not wise.

Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.

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.

It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.

Truth is man’s proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.

If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.

A good man will avoid the spot of any sin. The very aspersion is grievous, which makes him choose his way in his life, as he would in his journey.

[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.

I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavored to belie me.-It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.

For whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such, As what he loves may never like too much.

The poet is the nearest borderer upon the orator.