Ben Jonson > Quotes

“Drink today, and drown all sorrow;
You shall perhaps not do it tomorrow;
Best, while you have it, use your breath;
There is no drinking after death.”
― Ben Jonson

“True happiness
Consists not in the multitude of friends,
But in the worth and choice.”
― Ben Jonson

“There was never a great genius without a touch of madness.”
― Ben Jonson

“Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee”
― Ben Jonson

“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”
― Ben Jonson

“Memory, of all the powers of the mind, is the most delicate and frail.”
― Ben Jonson

“He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.”
― Ben Jonson, Timber: Or Discoveries Made Upon Men And Matter

“He was not of an age, but for all time!”
― Ben Jonson, The Complete Poems

“In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be.”
― Ben Jonson

“Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone; Or, the Fox

“Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times”
― Ben Jonson

“For this I find, where jealousy is fed,
Horns in the mind are worse than on the head.”
― Ben Jonson, Every Man in His Humor

“Indeed there's a woundy luck in names.”
― Ben Jonson

“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.”
― Ben Jonson, Epigrams; And, the Forest

“Words borrowed of antiquity do lend a kind of majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes.”
― Ben Jonson, The Works of Ben Jonson: With critical and explanatory notes and a memoir by William Gifford. Volume 2

“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

“Though I am young, and cannot tell
Either what Death or Love is well,
Yet I have heard they both bear darts,
And both do aim at human hearts.
And then again, I have been told
Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold;
So that I fear they do but bring
Extremes to touch, and mean one thing.

As in a ruin we it call
One thing to be blown up, or fall;
Or to our end like way may have
By a flash of lightning, or a wave;
So Love’s inflamèd shaft or brand
May kill as soon as Death’s cold hand;
Except Love’s fires the virtue have
To fight the frost out of the grave.”
― Ben Jonson

“To speak and to speak well, are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.”
― Ben Jonson

“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.”
― Ben Jonson

“Language most shews a man: Speak, that I may see thee.”
― Ben Jonson

“Many might go to heaven with half the labor they go to hell.”
― 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, Volpone; Or, the Fox

“He wil sooner lose his best friend, then his least jest.”
― Ben Jonson, The Poetaster

“A Song To Celia


Drink to me, only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I’ll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine:
But might I of Jove’s nectar sup
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honouring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be
But thou thereon didst only breath
And sent’st it back to me:
Since, when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but thee.”
― Ben Jonson

“No, I do know that I was born
To age, misfortune, sickness, grief:
But I will bear these with that scorn
As shall not need thy false relief.

Nor for my peace will I go far,
As wanderers do, that still do roam;
But make my strengths, such as they are,
Here in my bosom, and at home.”
― Ben Jonson

“Poor wretches! I rather pity their folly and indiscretion, than their loss of time and money; for these may be recovered by industry: but to be a fool born is a disease incurable.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“Soul of the age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage!”
― Ben Jonson

“AMBITION MAKES MORE TRUSTY SLAVES THAN NEED”
― 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 shade
Dare itself to interpose,
Cynthia's shining orb was made
Heaven 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 hart
Space to breath, how short soever:
Thou that mak'st a day of night-
Goddess excellently bright.”
― Ben Jonson

“Riches are in fortune A greater good than wisdom is in nature.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone