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
[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.
Art hath an enemy call'd ignorance .
A prince without letters is a Pilot without eyes. All his government is groping.
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.
A valiant man Ought not to undergo, or tempt a danger, But worthily, and by selected ways, He undertakes with reason, not by chance. His valor is the salt t' his other virtues, They're all unseason'd without it.
Truth is man's proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.
Sweet meat must have sour sauce.
To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure.
Vice Is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment.
Guilt's a terrible thing.
Court a mistress, she denies you; let her alone, she will court you.
The Devil is an Ass , I do acknowledge it.
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 .
I do honour the very flea of his dog.