Ben Jonson
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
Wherein the graver had a strife / With Nature to out-do the life.
Underneath this stone doth lie / As much beauty as could die.
[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.
Success hath made me wanton.
If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.
Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.
For a man to write well, there are required three necessaries: to read the best authors, observe the best speakers, and much exercise of his own style.
Freedom doth with degree dispense.
Art hath an enemy call'd ignorance .
A prince without letters is a Pilot without eyes. All his government is groping.
Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost parts of us, and is the image of the parent of it, the mind. No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.
There is no bounty to be showed to such As have real goodness: Bounty is A spice of virtue; and what virtuous act Can take effect on them that have no power Of equal habitude to apprehend it?
Poets are far rarer birds than kings.
No simple word That shall be uttered at our mirthful board, Shall make us sad next morning; or affright The liberty that we'll enjoy to-night.