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
Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue
Let them call it mischief; when it is past and prospered, it will be virtue.
Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause.
There is no bounty to be showed to such As have real goodness: Bounty is A spice of virtue; and what virtuous act Can take effect on them that have no power Of equal habitude to apprehend it?
He that would have his virtue published, is not the servant of virtue, but glory.
That for which all virtue now is sold, and almost every vice- almighty gold
It is not growing like a tree / In bulk, doth make men better be.
Such sweet neglect more taketh me, / Than all the adulteries of art; / They strike mine eyes, but not my heart.
And though thou hadst small Latin, and less Greek.
This is the very womb and bed of enormity.
He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more careless about her house.
He knows not his own strength that has not met adversity.
To speak and to speak well, are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.