Ben Jonson Quotes

He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.

~ Ben Jonson

Words borrowed of antiquity do lend a kind of majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes.

~ Ben Jonson

Queen and huntress, chaste and fair,Now the sun is laid to sleep,Seated in thy silver chair,State in wonted manner keep:Hesperus entreats thy light,Goddess excellently bright.Earth, let not thy envious shadeDare itself to interpose,Cynthia's shining orb was madeHeaven to clear when day did close:Bless us then with wished sight,Goddess excellently bright.Lay thy bow of pearl apart,And thy crystal-shining quiver,Give unto the flying hartSpace to breath, how short soever:Thou that mak'st a day of night-Goddess excellently bright.

~ Ben Jonson

Language most shews a man: Speak, that I may see thee.

~ Ben Jonson

There was never a great genius without a touch of madness.

~ Ben Jonson

I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is groundUpon my flesh t'inflict another wound.Yet dare I not complain, or wish for deathWith holy Paul; lest it be thought the breathOf discontent; or that these prayers beFor weariness of life, not love of thee.

~ Ben Jonson

Many might go to heaven with half the labor they go to hell.

~ Ben Jonson

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.

~ Ben Jonson

Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.

~ Ben Jonson

Riches, the dumb god that giv'st all men tongues, / That canst do nought, and yet mak'st men do all things; / The price of souls; even hell, with thee to boot, / Is made worth heaven!

~ Ben Jonson

Indeed there's a woundy luck in names.

~ Ben Jonson

Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.

~ Ben Jonson

He was not of an age but for all time.

~ Ben Jonson

Language most shows a man: speak that I may see thee.

~ Ben Jonson

Language most shows a man speak that I may see thee.

~ Ben Jonson

He wil sooner lose his best friend, then his least jest.

~ Ben Jonson

He knows not his own strength that has not met adversity.

~ Ben Jonson

True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.

~ Ben Jonson

Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times.

~ Ben Jonson

They say Princes learn no art truly, but the art of horsemanship. The reason is, the brave beast is no flatterer. He will throw a prince as soon as his groom.

~ Ben Jonson

Success produces confidence; confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins the reputation which accuracy had raised.

~ Ben Jonson