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
True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.
Honor's a good brooch to wear in a man's hat at all times.
Passions are spiritual rebels and raise sedition against the understanding.
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.
Soul of the age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage!
Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his currents, how to shift his sails; What she will bear in foul, what in fair weathers; Where her springs are, her leaks, and how to stop 'em; What strands, what shelves, what rocks do threaten her.
He that would have his virtue published, is not the servant of virtue, but glory.
Now we are all fallen, youth from their fear, And age from that which bred it, good example.
Fortune, that favors fools.
I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue.
Freedom doth with degree dispense.
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.
Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.