Volpone Quotes

“Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone; Or, the Fox

“Riches, the dumb god that giv'st all men tongues, / That canst do nought, and yet mak'st men do all things; / The price of souls; even hell, with thee to boot, / Is made worth heaven!”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone; Or, the Fox

“Poor wretches! I rather pity their folly and indiscretion, than their loss of time and money; for these may be recovered by industry: but to be a fool born is a disease incurable.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“Riches are in fortune A greater good than wisdom is in nature.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“SIR P: Sir, calumnies are answer'd best with silence.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“Hood an ass with reverend purple,
...
And he shall pass for a cathedral doctor"

(1. 2. 113-115)”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“CORV: Honour! tut, a breath: There's no such thing, in nature: a mere term Invented to awe fools.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“MOS: And besides, sir, You are not like a thresher that doth stand With a huge flail, watching a heap of corn, And, hungry, dares not taste the smallest grain, But feeds on mallows, and such bitter herbs; Nor like the merchant, who hath fill'd his vaults With Romagnia, and rich Candian wines, Yet drinks the lees of Lombard's vinegar: You will not lie in straw, whilst moths and worms Feed on your sumptuous hangings and soft beds; You know the use of riches, and dare give now From that bright heap, to me, your poor observer, Or to your dwarf, or your hermaphrodite, Your eunuch, or what other household-trifle Your pleasure allows maintenance.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone

“PEREGRINE
It seems, Sir, you know all.

POLITICK WOULD-BE
Not all, Sir: but
I have some general notions. I do love
To note, and to observe: though I live out
From the active torrent: yet I’ll mark
The currents and the passages of things
For mine own private use.”
― Ben Jonson, Volpone