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Confound these ancestors… They’ve stolen our best ideas!

Ben Jonson

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

Greatness Mind Scorn Watches
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
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
Art hath an enemy call’d ignorance .
BEN JONSON

Art Enemy Ignorance
One woman reads another’s character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering
BEN JONSON

Character Trouble Women
Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times.
BEN JONSON

Good Time Illustrate Men Stars
What excellent fools religion makes of men.
BEN JONSON

Men Religion Religious
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
I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.
BEN JONSON

Affected Eloquence Foolish
He who is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
BEN JONSON

Art Fool Inspirational
The poet is the nearest borderer upon the orator.
BEN JONSON

Orators Oratory Poet
Ods me I marle what pleasure or felicity they have in taking their roguish tobacco. It is good for nothing but to choke a man, and fill him full of smoke and embers.
BEN JONSON

Cigarette Smoke Men Smoking
Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician.
BEN JONSON

Funeral Physicians Punishment
Well, as he brews, so shall he drink.
BEN JONSON

Beer Drink Wells
There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.
BEN JONSON

Fear Hell No Prisoner
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

Confound these ancestors… They’ve stolen our best ideas!

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Confound these ancestors… They’ve stolen our best ideas!

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Popular Authors

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