4 Ben Jonson Quotes on Speech

Ben Jonson quotes on speech

40. Those that merely talk and never think, That live in the wild anarchy of drink.

42. The voice so sweet, the words so fair, As some soft chime had stroked the air; And, though the sound were parted thence, Still left an echo in the sense.

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.

55. 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 always on this side truth. Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking; his language (where he could spare or pass by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man ever spake more neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he should make an end.