Quotes from Ben Jonson

If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.

Woman, the more careful she is about her face, the more careless about her house.

Poor worms, they hiss at me, whilst I at home Can be contented to applaud myself, . . . with joy To see how plump my bags are and my barns.

Great honours are great burdens, but on whom They are cast with envy, he doth bear two loads.

I have no urns, no dusty monuments; No broken images of ancestors, Wanting an ear, or nose; no forged tales Of long descents, to boast false honors from.

I do honor the very flea of his dog.

Confound these ancestors... They've stolen our best ideas!

He who is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.

I have been at my book; and am now past the craggy paths of study, and come to the flowery plains of honour and reputation

Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco.

A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more careless about her house.

Talking is the disease of age.

What excellent fools religion makes of men.

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.

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.

Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak, and to speak well, are two things.

He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.

I know no disease of the soul but ignorance, a pernicious evil, the darkener of man's life, the disturber of his reason, and common confounder of truth.

Passions are spiritual rebels and raise sedition against the understanding.

To struggle when hope is banished! To live when life's salt is gone! To dwell in a dream that's vanished- To endure, and go calmly on!

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

Success hath made me wanton.

To the old, long life and treasure; To the young, all health and pleasure.

In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be.