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It is a note Of upstart greatness to observe and watch For these poor trifles, which the noble mind Neglects and scorns.

Ben Jonson

Tell troth and shame the devil.
BEN JONSON

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

Feet Flower Roots
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
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
Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.
BEN JONSON

Art Men Monsters
Where it concerns himself, Who’s angry at a slander, makes it true.
BEN JONSON

Angry Concern Slander
Cares that have entered once in the breast, will have whole possession of the rest.
BEN JONSON

Anxiety Care Possession
The soul of man is infinite in what it covets.
BEN JONSON

Infinite Men Soul
Reader look, not on his picture but his book.
BEN JONSON

Book Looks Reader
My thoughts and I were of another world.
BEN JONSON

Another World Thoughts
Force works on servile natures, not the free.
BEN JONSON

Force Free Nature Servile
Art hath an enemy call’d ignorance .
BEN JONSON

Art Enemy Ignorance
Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need
BEN JONSON

Ambition Needs Slave
Guilt’s a terrible thing.
BEN JONSON

Guilt Terrible Things
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.
BEN JONSON

Aspersion Choose Good Journey Men
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

It is a note Of upstart greatness to observe and watch For these poor trifles, which the noble mind Neglects and scorns.

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It is a note Of upstart greatness to observe and watch For these poor trifles, which the noble mind Neglects and scorns.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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