Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Ben Jonson (English Dramatist)

Benjamin Jonson (1572–1637) was a British actor, poet, playwright, scholar, critic, and translator. In a literary career of more than 40 years (twice as long as his friend Shakespeare’s) that produced over 60 plays, Jonson was influential in Elizabethan and Stuart drama. Known for his biting social satire, brilliant plotting, a span of social panorama, and original language, Jonson is reckoned as one of English literature’s fountainhead figures.

Jonson was born in London. His formal education ended prematurely. Jonson was raised near Westminster Abbey, where he enrolled at the abbey’s celebrated Westminster School. It was here in annual performances mounted by the school’s scholars that he got introduced to drama.

Rather than going to college, Jonson apprenticed as a bricklayer, becoming a journeyman by 1598. He fought as a volunteer foot soldier against the Spanish in the Netherlands and began his career as a playwright after first acting in one of London’s theater companies.

Jonson’s first drama was The Case Is Altered (1598,) a comedy derived from two plays by the Roman playwright Plautus. It was followed by Everyman in His Humour (1598) and Everyman out of His Humour (1599,) performed by Shakespeare’s drama company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which established Jonson as an emerging playwright.

Jonson’s undisputed masterpiece, Volpone (1606,) was performed to great acclaim at London’s Globe Theatre. His other notable works include The Alchemist (1610,) Bartholomew Fair (1614,) and The Devil Is an Ass (1616.) The Alchemist, more than any other of his dramas, established a new standard of dramatic construction and a realistic approach and subject for the theater.

Jonson was most admired for his comedies with contemporaneous audiences. He also wrote a series of court masques, which were simple plays in which the court’s lords and ladies acted. Even with his working-class background, Jonson showed a remarkable appreciation for the power of books and of print. His plays are full of erudite references, drawn from what must have been a substantial personal library.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Ben Jonson

Leave but a kiss in the cup, and I’ll not look for wine.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Kiss, Kisses

To men pressed by their wants all change is ever welcome.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Change

Very few men are wise by their own counsel, or learned by their own teaching; for he that was only taught by himself had a fool as his master.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Wisdom, Role models, Perception, Vision

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.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Resolve, Perseverance, Endurance

Let those that merely talk and never think, That live in the wild anarchy of drink
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Drinking

Silence in woman is like speech in men; deny it who can.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Silence

True friendship consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Friendship, Happiness, Feelings

The gods Grow angry with your patience. ‘Tis their care, And must be yours, that guilty men escape not: As crimes do grow, justice should rouse itself.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Guilt

What a deal of cold business doth a man misspend the better part of life in! In scattering compliments, tendering visits, gathering and venting news, following feasts and plays, making a little winter-love in a dark corner.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Man

The soul of man is infinite in what it covets.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Desire

Envy sets the stronger seal on desert; if he have no enemies, I should esteem his fortune most wretched.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Envy

He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Strength, Adversity, Difficulties

All concord’s born of contraries.
—Ben Jonson

Who falls for the love of God, shall rise a star.
—Ben Jonson

In small proportions we just beauties see,
And in short measures life may perfect be.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Life

I’ll give anything for a good copy now, be it true or false, so it be news.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: News

O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Time, Time Management

He threatens many that hath injured one.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Criminals, Crime

Let them call it mischief; when it’s past and prospered, it will be virtue.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Success, Revolution

Art hath an enemy called ignorance
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Art, Arts, Enemy, Artists

The covetous man never has money; the prodigal will have none shortly.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Money, Accomplishment

Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Ambition

Weigh the meaning and look not at the words.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Words

Men might go to heaven with half the labor they put forth to go to hell, if they would but venture their industry in the right way.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Hell

He was a man versed in the world, as pilot in his compass; the needle pointed ever to that interest which was his loadstar; and he spread his sails with vantage to the gale of others’ passions.
—Ben Jonson

‘Tis no shame to follow the better precedent.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Imitation, Role models

Talking and eloquence are not the same.—To speak and to speak well are two things.—A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Speakers, Eloquence, Communication, Speaking

Bad men excuse their faults; good men will leave them.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Excuses, Faults

A secret in his mouth is like a wild bird put into a cage; whose door no sooner opens, but it is out.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Secrecy

There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Hell

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