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
Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause.
They that know no evil will suspect none.
If you be sick, your own thoughts make you sick
There is no doctrine will do good where nature is wanting.
Many punishments sometimes, and in some cases, as much discredit a prince as many funerals a physician.
The day For whose returns, and many, all these pray; And so do I.
Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.
I do honor the very flea of his dog.
Still may syllables jar with time, Still may reason war with rhyme, Resting never!
Our whole life is like a play.
O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!
That old bald cheater, Time.
He was not of an age, but for all time!
Come, my Celia, let us prove, While we can, the sports of love, Time will not be ours for ever, He, at length, our good will sever; Spend not then his gifts in vain: Suns that set may rise again; But if once we lose this light, 'Tis with us perpetual night. Why should we defer our joys? Fame and rumour are but toys.