black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow’d them with her odorous foot.

Ben Jonson

Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.
BEN JONSON

Heart Hypocrisy Spread
One woman reads another’s character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering
BEN JONSON

Character Trouble Women
Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.
BEN JONSON

Beast Fats Mischief
I perceive affection makes a fool Of any man too much the father.
BEN JONSON

Father Men Parent
It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us.
BEN JONSON

Dear Estimation Hypocrisy
Our whole life is like a play.
BEN JONSON

Life Play Whole
For they have the authority of years, and out of their intermission do win to themselves a kind of grace-like newness. But the eldest of the present, and newest of the past Language, is the best.
BEN JONSON

Intermission Newest Present Themselves
That I might live alone once with my gold! O, ’tis a sweet companion! kind and true: A man may trust it when his father cheats him, Brother, or friend, or wife. O wondrous pelf! That which makes all men false, is true itself.
BEN JONSON

Alone Brother Companions Money Sweet
To men pressed by their wants all change is ever welcome.
BEN JONSON

Change Men Want Welcome
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
Memory, of all the powers of the mind, is the most delicate and frail.
BEN JONSON

Frail Memories Mind
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
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
All concord’s born of contraries.
BEN JONSON

Born Contradiction Contrary
Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician.
BEN JONSON

Funeral Physicians Punishment

And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow’d them with her odorous foot.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow’d them with her odorous foot.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Ben Jonson Quotes