Quote #54

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.

Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

More from Ben Jonson

  1. Though the most be players, some must be spectators.
  2. One, though he be excellent and the chief, is not to be imitated alone; for never no imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is alway…
  3. Greatness of name in the father oft-times overwhelms the son; they stand too near one another. The shadow kills the growth: so much, that w…
  4. That Shakespeare wanted Art.
  5. They say princes learn no art truly, but the art of horsemanship. The reason is, the brave beast is no flatterer. He will throw a prince as…
  6. He cursed Petrarch for redacting verses to sonnets, which he said were like that tyrant's bed, where some who were too short were racked, o…
  7. I loved the man [Shakespeare] and do honor his memory, on this side idolatry, as much as any.
  8. That Donne himself, for not being understood, would perish.

All Ben Jonson quotes