Ben Jonson
![Ben Jonson](/assets/img/authors/ben-jonson.jpg)
Ben Jonson
Benjamin "Ben" Jonsonwas an English playwright, poet, actor and literary critic of the 17th century, whose artistry exerted a lasting impact upon English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours. He is best known for the satirical plays Every Man in His Humour, Volpone, or The Foxe, The Alchemistand Bartholomew Fayre: A Comedyand for his lyric poetry; he is generally regarded as the second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare, during the reign of James I...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth11 June 1572
Truth is man's proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.
Ambition, like a torrent, ne'er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a rebel Unto the soul and reason, and enforceth All laws, all conscience, treads upon religion, and offereth violence to nature's self.
Soul of the age! The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare , rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer or Spenser , or bid Beaumont lie A little further, to make thee a room; Thou art a monument, without a tomb, And art alive still, while thy book doth live, And we have wits to read , and praise to give .
Success hath made me wanton.
Nor for my peace will I go far, As wanderers do, that still do roam, But make my strengths, such as they are, Here in my bosom, and at home.
The Devil is an Ass , I do acknowledge it.
Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco.
In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be.
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.
Let those that merely talk and never think, That live in the wild anarchy of drink
A good life is a main argument.
He threatens many that hath injured one.
The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins.
We are persons of quality, I assure you, and women of fashion, and come to see and to be seen.