Inspirational Quotes by Ben Jonson (English Dramatist)

Inspirational Quotations 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

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, Vision, Perception, Role models

Cares that have entered once in the breast, will have whole possession of the rest.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Worry, Anxiety

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.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Horses

I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavored to belie me.—It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.
—Ben Jonson

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

Be not ashamed of thy virtues; honor’s a good brooch to wear in a man’s hat at all times.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Honor

I would not have you stand so much on your gentility, which is an airy and mere borrowed thing from dead men’s dust and bones, and none of yours, except you make and hold it.
—Ben Jonson

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
Topics: Drinking

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

Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame, from a flatterer.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Flattery

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

O, for an engine to keep back all clocks.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Value of Time, Time Management

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

Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost part of us.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Language

We are persons of quality, I assure you, and women of fashion, and come to see and to be seen.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Socialism, Communism

Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I will not look for wine.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Wine

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

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

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

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

Woman, the more careful she is about her face, the more careless about her house.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Home

Force works on servile natures, not the free.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Power

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

When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Honor

Great honours are great burdens, but on whom They are cast with envy, he doth bear two loads. His cares must still be double to his joys, In any dignity.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Honor

No man is so foolish but he may sometimes give another good counsel, and no man so wise that he may not easily err if he takes no other counsel than his own. He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Advice

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

They that know no evil will suspect none.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Evil, Innocence

A good poet’s made as well as born.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Poetry, Poets

Guilt’s a terrible thing.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Guilt