Ben Jonson Quotes

A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool.

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.

To speak as the common people do, to think as wise men do is style.

As great minds have the faculty of saying a great deal in a few words, so lesser minds have a talent of talking much, and saying nothing.

To speak and to speak well, are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.

An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.

The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit.

My purpose in public address and in speech is really encapsulated in three C's: clear, concise, correct. No overblowing rhetoric or anything like that. As simple as possible: clear, concise, correct.

Henry Clay's eloquence did not consist, as many fine specimens of eloquence do, of types and figures, of antitheses and elegant arrangements of words and sentences, but rather of that deeply earnest and impassioned tone and manner which can proceed only through conviction in the speaker of the justice and importance of his cause. This it is that truly touches the chords of sympathy; and those who heard Mr. Clay never failed to be moved by it, or ever after forgot the impression. All his [oratorical] efforts were made for practical effect. He never spoke merely to be heard.

He who is educated and eloquent must not measure his saintliness merely by his fluency.

Eloquence and wisdom are by no means the same thing. They are sometimes united, but not necessarily ; perhaps never when eloquence is the mere gift of nature rather than the slow result of nature and art conjoined. A ready supply of glittering language and an ardent conception, i. e. a fertile imagination, and quick feelings, united to a retentive memory—these are together quite sufficient to make an orator, but by no means to make a wise man; to make a speaker or even a leader in a popular assembly, but not necessarily a statesman.

Eloquence is the child of knowledge.

True eloquence scorns eloquence.

Don't you know that it is only very foolish folk who talk sense all the time?

Many wise words are spoken in jest, but they don't compare with the number of stupid words spoken in earnest.

The ability to speak does not make you intelligent.

He spoke with more eloquence than wisdom.

I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I speak as simply as possible because the issue is too great to be obscured by eloquence. I speak simply and briefly in the hope that my words will be taken to heart.

When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold his tongue.

Let eloquence be flung to the dogs rather than souls be lost. What we want is to win souls. They are not won by flowery speeches.

More matter with less art.

Truth is his inspirer, and earnestness the polisher of his sentences. He could afford to lose his Sharp's rifles, while he retained his faculty of speech,--a Sharp's rifle of infinitely surer and longer range.

Sometimes, to be silent is to be most eloquent.

I prefer the wisdom of the uneducated to the folly of the loquacious.