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To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

Ben Jonson

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

Giving Men Virtue
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.
BEN JONSON

Boast Fall Pieces Wise
I perceive affection makes a fool Of any man too much the father.
BEN JONSON

Father Men Parent
We are persons of quality, I assure you, and women of fashion, and come to see and to be seen.
BEN JONSON

Fashion Quality Women
Reader look, not on his picture but his book.
BEN JONSON

Book Looks Reader
All the wise world is little else, in nature, But parasites or subparasites.
BEN JONSON

Little Wise World
The burnt child dreads the fire.
BEN JONSON

Children Dread Fire
How near to good is what is fair!
BEN JONSON

Fairs Good Goodness Near
When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.
BEN JONSON

Enemy Grief Men
Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.
BEN JONSON

Disease Mean Music
Aristotle was the first accurate critic and truest judge nay, the greatest philosopher the world ever had; for he noted the vices of all knowledges, in all creatures, and out of many men’s perfections in a science he formed still one Art.
BEN JONSON

Art Judging Men
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
My thoughts and I were of another world.
BEN JONSON

Another World Thoughts
I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.
BEN JONSON

Affected Eloquence Foolish
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
Hang sorrow, care’ll kill a cat.
BEN JONSON

Care Cat Sorrow

To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

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To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

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Popular Authors

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