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
A good dog deserves a good bone.
... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.
True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.
Honor's a good brooch to wear in a man's hat at all times.
Nor use too swelling, or ill-sounded words . . . .
A lily of a day Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night, It was the plant and flower of light. In small proportions we just beauties see, And in short measures life may perfect be.
Man and wife make one fool.
You learn nothing about someone by the way they win the fight, you learn everything about the way they lose and keep coming back.
Passions are spiritual rebels and raise sedition against the understanding.
Men that talk of their own benefits are not believed to talk of them because they have done them, but to have done them because they might talk of them.
Fortune, thou hadst no deity, if men Had wisdom.
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.
I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground Upon my flesh t'inflict another wound. Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death With holy Paul; lest it be thought the breath Of discontent; or that these prayers be For weariness of life, not love of thee.