Ben Jonson quote: How near to good is what is fair!

“Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his currents, how to shift his sails; What she will bear in foul, what in fair weathers; Where her springs are, her leaks, and how to stop 'em; What strands, what shelves, what rocks do threaten her.”

Knows Ends Hands Government Rocks Bears Spring Fairs Currents Weather Ships Ems Tides Sail Shelves Petty Foul Steers Strands Leaks

Book:The alchemist. Catiline, his conspiracy. Bartholomew Fair

Source: The alchemist. Catiline, his conspiracy. Bartholomew Fair

“If I freely may discover What should please me in my lover, I would have her fair and witty, Savouring more of court than city; A little proud, but full of pity; Light and humorous in her toying, Oft building hopes, and soon destroying, Long, but sweet in the enjoying; Neither too easy nor to hard; All extremes I would have barr'd.”

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Ben Jonson (Illustrated)

“That I might live alone once with my gold! O, 'tis a sweet companion! kind and true: A man may trust it when his father cheats him, Brother, or friend, or wife. O wondrous pelf! That which makes all men false, is true itself.”

Men Kind May Might Father Money Wife Sweet Brother Gold Companion Cheat Wondrous

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Ben Jonson (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Ben Jonson (Illustrated)

“The poet is the nearest borderer upon the orator.”

Poet Orators Oratory

Book:Underwoods. Timber; or, Discoveries made upon men and matter. Horace, Of the art of poetry [with an English translation by Jonson]. The English grammar. Leges convivales, rules for the Tavern Academy. The case is altered

Source: Underwoods. Timber; or, Discoveries made upon men and matter. Horace, Of the art of poetry [with an English translation by Jonson]. The English grammar. Leges convivales, rules for the Tavern Academy. The case is altered

“Princes that would their people should do well Must at themselves begin, as at the head; For men, by their example, pattern out Their limitations, and regard of laws: A virtuous court a world to virtue draws.”

People Men World Should Wells Law Virtue Example Draws Regard Court Patterns Limitation Virtuous Royalty

Author:Ben Jonson

“Sweet Swan of Avon! What a sight it were To see thee in our water yet appear.”

Water Sweet Sight Thee Swans Avon

Author:Ben Jonson

“Pessimism of the spirit; optimism of the will.”

Spirit Optimism Pessimism

Author:Antonio Gramsci

“Silence in woman is like speech in man.”

Men Silence Speech

Book:Epicoene or The Silent Woman

Source: Epicoene or The Silent Woman

“Forbear, you things That stand upon the pinnacles of state, To boast your slippery height! when you do fall, You dash yourselves in pieces, ne'er to rise: And he that lends you pity, is not wise.”

States Fall Pieces Wise Pity Height Boast Slippery Pinnacle

Book:Sejanus His Fall

Source: Sejanus His Fall

“As it is a great point of art, when our matter requires it, to enlarge and veer out all sail, so to take it in and contract it is of no less praise when the argument doth ask it.”

Art Matter Asks Style Argument Praise Contracts Sail

Book:Underwoods. Timber; or, Discoveries made upon men and matter. Horace, Of the art of poetry [with an English translation by Jonson]. The English grammar. Leges convivales, rules for the Tavern Academy. The case is altered

Source: Underwoods. Timber; or, Discoveries made upon men and matter. Horace, Of the art of poetry [with an English translation by Jonson]. The English grammar. Leges convivales, rules for the Tavern Academy. The case is altered

Quote by Ben Jonson

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