Quotes from Ben Jonson

Apes are apes, though clothed in scarlet.

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.

Truth is man's proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.

Man and wife make one fool.

When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.

Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.

God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man's dearer than to himself.

A good man should and must Sit rather down with loss than rise unjust.

I perceive affection makes a fool Of any man too much the father.

Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a master.

No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.

The man that is once hated, both his good and his evil deeds oppress him.

The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.

Custom is the most certain mistress of language, as the public stamp makes the current money.

To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.

All the wise world is little else, in nature, But parasites or subparasites.

Peace is never more than one thought away.

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.

Whom the disease of talking still once posses-seth, he can never hold his peace.

A good dog deserves a good bone.

A good king is a public servant.

Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.

A prince without letters is a Pilot without eyes. All his government is groping.