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. Ben Jonson More Quotes by Ben Jonson More Quotes From Ben Jonson I have no urns, no dusty monuments; Ben Jonson broken honor long 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. Ben Jonson judging men art I now think, Love is rather deaf, than blind, For else it could not be, That she, Whom I adore so much, should so slight me, And cast my love behind. Ben Jonson blind love-is thinking A lily of a day Ben Jonson flower night fall I do honor the very flea of his dog. Ben Jonson honor hero dog There is no bounty to be showed to such Ben Jonson spices virtue real A good man will avoid the spot of any sin. The very aspersion is grievous, which makes him choose his way in his life, as he would in his journey. Ben Jonson good-man journey men How near to good is what is fair! Ben Jonson fairs goodness Poor worms, they hiss at me, whilst I at home Can be contented to applaud myself, . . . with joy To see how plump my bags are and my barns. Ben Jonson barns home joy 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 sorrow use drinking Though I am young, and cannot tell Either what Death or Love is well, Yet I have heard they both bear darts, And both do aim at human hearts. And then again, I have been told Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold; So that I fear they do but bring Extremes to touch, and mean one thing. As in a ruin we it call One thing to be blown up, or fall; Or to our end like way may have By a flash of lightning, or a wave; So Love’s inflamèd shaft or brand May kill as soon as Death’s cold hand; Except Love’s fires the virtue have To fight the frost out of the grave. Ben Jonson heart mean fall I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground Upon my flesh t'inflict another wound. Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death With holy Paul; lest it be thought the breath Of discontent; or that these prayers be For weariness of life, not love of thee. Ben Jonson grief prayer wish Soul of the age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage! Ben Jonson delight soul age Indeed there's a woundy luck in names. Ben Jonson luck names Nor use too swelling, or ill-sounded words . . . . Ben Jonson swelling ill use It is an art to have so much judgment as to apparel a lie well, to give it a good dressing. Ben Jonson giving lying art It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place, and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature. Ben Jonson wrong-person noble done Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times. Ben Jonson good-man stars men God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf: To him man's dearer than to himself. Ben Jonson wrecks strange men Books are faithful repositories, which may be awhile neglected or forgotten, but when they are opened again, will again impart their instruction. Ben Jonson faithful may book
