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
I am now past the craggy paths of study, and come to the flowery plains of honor and reputation.
Let them call it mischief; when it is past and prospered, it will be virtue.
Words borrowed of Antiquity do lend a kind of Majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes. For they have the authority of years, and out of their intermission do win to themselves a kind of grace-like newness. But the eldest of the present, and newest of the past Language, is the best.
Wherein the graver had a strife / With Nature to out-do the life.
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.
It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.
Well, as he brews, so shall he drink.
No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.
Fear to do base, unworthy things is valor; if they be one to us, to suffer them is valor too.
Tis not the wholesome sharp mortality, Or modest anger of a satiric spirit, That hurts or wounds the body of a state, But the sinister application Of the malicious, ignorant, and base Interpreter; who will distort and strain The general scope and purpose of an author To his particular and private spleen.
Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten, but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction.
The two chief things that give a man reputation in counsel, are the opinion of his honesty, and the opinion of his wisdom; the authority of those two will persuade.