black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

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

Ben Jonson

Follow a shadow, it still flies you, Seem to fly, it will pursue: So court a mistress, she denies you; Let her alone, she will court you. Say are not women truly, then, Styled but the shadows of us men?
BEN JONSON

Men Mistress Shadow
A lily of a day Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night, It was the plant and flower of light. In small proportions we just beauties see, And in short measures life may perfect be.
BEN JONSON

Die Fall Flower Night Proportion
I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue.
BEN JONSON

Compassion Justice Weakness
A good man should and must Sit rather down with loss than rise unjust.
BEN JONSON

Good Loss Men Rise
Blueness doth express trueness.
BEN JONSON

Color Trueness
Who casts to write a living line, must sweat.
BEN JONSON

Lines Sweat Writing
There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.
BEN JONSON

Fear Hell No Prisoner
Success hath made me wanton.
BEN JONSON

Hath Made Success Wanton
Good men but see death, the wicked taste it.
BEN JONSON

Death Good Man Men
It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place, and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
BEN JONSON

Done Noble Person Wrong
Nor use too swelling, or ill-sounded words . . . .
BEN JONSON

Sounded Swelling Use Words
A thankful man owes a courtesy ever; the unthankful but when he needs it.
BEN JONSON

Gratitude Men Needs
Money never made any man rich, but his mind. He that can order himself to the law of nature, is not only without the sense, but the fear of poverty.
BEN JONSON

Law Men Mind Order Sense
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
As it is a great point of art, when our matter requires it, to enlarge and veer out all sail, so to take it in and contract it is of no less praise when the argument doth ask it.
BEN JONSON

Art Ask Matter Praise Style
Princes that would their people should do well Must at themselves begin, as at the head; For men, by their example, pattern out Their limitations, and regard of laws: A virtuous court a world to virtue draws.
BEN JONSON

Example Law Men Patteren People
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
Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer.
BEN JONSON

Beast Flattery Tyrant
That old bald cheater, Time.
BEN JONSON

Bald Cheater Old Time
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

Exercise Men Writing
Your highest female grace is silence.
BEN JONSON

Female Grace Silence
True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.
BEN JONSON

Fine Melancholy Perfect Wit
To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure.
BEN JONSON

Long Pleasure Treasure
To men pressed by their wants all change is ever welcome.
BEN JONSON

Change Men Want Welcome
And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow’d them with her odorous foot.
BEN JONSON

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

Disease Talking
Wine it is the milk of Venus, And the poet’s horse accounted: Ply it and you all are mounted.
BEN JONSON

Horse Plies Wine

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

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Ben Jonson Quotes