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I would rather have a plain down-right wisdom than a foolish and affected eloquence.

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
Plain
Affected
Foolish
Wisdom
Rather
Right
Would
Eloquence

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Many might go to heaven with half the labour they go to hell, if they would venture their industry the right way.
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Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.
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Give me a look, give me a face, That makes simplicity a grace Robes loosely flowing, hair as free Such sweet neglect more taketh me Than all the adulteries of art: They strike mine eyes, but not my heart.
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The soul of man is infinite in what it covets.
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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.
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I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue.
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The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins.
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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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Queen and huntress, chaste and fair Now the sun is laid to sleep, Seated in thy silver chair, State in wonted manner keep: Hesperus entreats thy light Goddess, excellently bright.
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It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us.
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Tell troth and shame the devil.
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I remember, the players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing (whatsoever he penned) he never plotted out a line. My answer hath been, would he had blotted a thousand.
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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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Still may syllables jar with time, Still may reason war with rhyme, Resting never!
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Tis not the wholesome sharp mortality, Or modest anger of a satiric spirit, That hurts or wounds the body of a state, But the sinister application Of the malicious, ignorant, and base Interpreter who will distort and strain The general scope and purpose of an author To his particular and private spleen.
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Nothing is more short-lived than pride.
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Where it concerns himself, Who's angry at a slander, makes it true.
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Aristotle was the first accurate critic and truest judge nay, the greatest philosopher the world ever had for he noted the vices of all knowledges, in all creatures, and out of many men's perfections in a science he formed still one Art.
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Neither do thou lust after that tawny weed tobacco.
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He was not of an age, but for all time!
Ben Jonson