79 Famous Quotes by Ben Jonson
6/11/1572 - 8/6/1637
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About Ben Jonson
Benjamin "Ben" Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems. A man of vast reading and a seemingly insatiable appetite for controversy, Jonson had an unparalleled breadth of influence on Jacobean and Caroline playwrights and poets.
The voice so sweet, the words so fair,
As some soft chime had stroked the air;
And though the sound had parted thence,
Still left an echo in the sense.
Voice
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Eupheme (IV)
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I am grieved that it should be said he is my brother, and take these courses. Well, as he brews, so shall he drink, for George again. Yet he shall hear on't, and tightly, too, an' I live, i'faith.
Brothers
Quotes, by Ben Jonson
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Where it concerns himself,
Who's angry at a slander, makes it true.
Proverbs
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Catiline (act III, sc. 1)
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It will never come out of the flesh that's bred in the bone.
Proverbs
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Every Man in his Humour (act I, sc. 1)
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A pauper traveller will sing before a beggar.
Proverbs
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Every Man in his Humour (act I, sc. 1)
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A third heir seldom profits by ill-gotten wealth.
Proverbs
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Every Man in his Humour (act I, sc. 1)
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A woman is most merciless when shame goads on her hate.
Proverbs
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Every Man in his Humour (act I, sc. 1)
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It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it falls and die that night--
It was the plant and flower of Light.
Growth
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Pindaric Ode on the Death of Sir H. Morison
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I remember, the players have often mentioned it as an honour to
Shakespeare, that in his writing (whatsoever he penned) he never
plotted out a line. My answer hath been, would he had blotted a
thousand.
Shakespeare
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Discoveries--De Shakespeare nostrat
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This figure that thou here seest put,
It was for gentle Shakespeare cut,
Wherein the graver had a strife
With Nature, to outdo the life:
Oh, could he but have drawn his wit
As well in brass, as he has hit
His face, the print would then surpass
All that was ever writ in brass;
But since he cannot, reader, look
Not on his picture, but his book.
Shakespeare
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Lines on a Picture of Shakespeare
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For a good poet's made, as well as born,
And such wast thou! Look how the father's face
Lives in his issue; even so the race
Of Shakespeare's mind and manner brightly shine
In his well-turned and true-filed lines;
In each of which he seems to shake a lance,
As brandished at the eyes of ignorance.
Shakespeare
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Lines to the Memory of Shakespeare
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He was not of an age, but for all time!
And all the Muses still were in their prime,
When, like Apollo, he came forth to warm
Our ears, or like a Mercury to charm!
Shakespeare
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Lines to the Memory of Shakespeare
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Nature herself was proud of his designs,
And joyed to wear the dressing of his lines!
Which were so richly spun, and woven so fit,
As since, she will vouchsafe no other wit.
Shakespeare
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Lines to the Memory of Shakespeare
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'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.
Crime
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Volpone (act III, sc. 6)
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Nay, if he take you in hand, sir, with an argument,
He'll bray you in a mortar.
Argument
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: The Alchemist (act II, sc. 1)
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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?
Shadows
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: The Forest--Song--That Women are but Men's Shadows
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So wise, so grave, of so perplex'd a tongue,
And loud withal, that would not wag, not scarce
Lie still without a fee.
Judges
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Volpone (act I, sc. 1)
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Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
Toasts
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: The Forest--Song to Celia
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The thirst that from the soul doth rise,
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.
Toasts
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: The Forest--To Celia
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To the old, long life and treasure;
To the young, all health and pleasure.
Toasts
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Metamorphosed Gipsies--Third Song
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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.
Apparel
Quotes, by Ben Jonson , Source: Epicaene; or, The Silent Woman (act I, sc. 1, song)
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