Quotes by Ben Jonson

• True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.
• Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco.
• O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!
• Success produces confidence; confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins the reputation which accuracy had raised.
• Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak, and to speak well, are two things.
• Talking is the disease of age.
• There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.
• 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.
• They that know no evil will suspect none.
• This is the very womb and bed of enormity.
• Weigh the meaning and look not at the words.
• To speak and to speak well, are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
• Vice Is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment.
• Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue.
• If you be sick, your own thoughts make you sick.
• 'Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.
• 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.
• Language most shows a man, speak that I may see thee.
• In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be.
• Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need.
• And though thou hadst small Latin, and less Greek.
• Art hath an enemy called Ignorance.
• Fortune, that favors fools.
• Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times.
• He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
• He threatens many that hath injured one.
• Honor's a good brooch to wear in a man's hat at all times.
• A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more careless about her house.
• I do honour the very flea of his dog.
• He knows not his own strength that has not met adversity.
• Apes are apes, though clothed in scarlet.
• Ill fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not.