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.

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Blueness doth express trueness.
—Ben Jonson

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

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

Fear to do base and unworthy things is valor; if they be done to us, to suffer them is also valor.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Valor

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

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

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: Eloquence, Speakers, Communication, Speaking

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

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: Perception, Wisdom, Vision, Role models

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

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: Endurance, Resolve, Perseverance

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

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

‘Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Music

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

Vice is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Vice

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

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

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

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

If you be sick, your own thoughts make you sick
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Disease, Sickness

In sovereignty it is a most happy thing not to be compelled, but so it is a most miserable thing not to be counselled.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Kings

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

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

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

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

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

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

All concord’s born of contraries.
—Ben Jonson

Talking is the disease of age.
—Ben Jonson
Topics: Age, Aging