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

Ben Jonson

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Ben Jonson
Age: 65 †
Born: 1572
Born: June 21
Died: 1637
Died: August 6
Actor
Literary Critic
Playwright
Poet
Writer
City of Westminster
Benjamin Jonson
Brings
Ready
Makes
Writing
Good

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The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.
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The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins.
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Follow a shadow, it still flies you, Seem to fly, it will pursue: So court a mistress, she denies you Let her alone, she will court you. Say are not women truly, then, Styled but the shadows of us men?
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Doing, a filthy pleasure is, and short And done, we straight repent us of the sport: Let us not rush blindly on unto it, Like lustful beasts, that only know to do it: For lust will languish, and that heat decay, But thus, thus, keeping endless Holy-.
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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.
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If you succeed not, cast not away the quills yet, nor scratch the wainscot, beat not the poor desk, but bring all to the forge and file again turn it new.
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Were Guilt is, Rage and Courage doth abound.
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One woman reads another's character Without the tedious trouble of deciphering
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Out of clothes out of countenance, out of countenance out of wit.
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Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.
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Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten, but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction.
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The man that is once hated, both his good and his evil deeds oppress him.
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If men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man's being a good poet without first being a good man.
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If all you boast of your great art be true Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.
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Sweet Swan of Avon! What a sight it were To see thee in our water yet appear.
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Nothing is more short-lived than pride.
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Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray prosperity never.
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O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!
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I do honor the very flea of his dog.
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To the old, long life and treasure To the young, all health and pleasure.
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