And there are Ben [Jonson] and William Shakespeare in…
![“And there are Ben [Jonson] and William Shakespeare in wit-combat, sure enough; Ben bearing down like a mighty Spanish war-ship, fraught with all learning and artillery; Shakespeare whisking away from him - whisking right through him, athwart the big bulk and timbers of him; like a miraculous…” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/1e6/thomas-carlyle-207_artillery_and-there-are-ben-jonson-and-william-sha_2359052.png)
“And there are Ben [Jonson] and William Shakespeare in wit-combat, sure enough; Ben bearing down like a mighty Spanish war-ship, fraught with all learning and artillery; Shakespeare whisking away from him - whisking right through him, athwart the big bulk and timbers of him; like a miraculous Celestial Light-ship, woven all of sheet-lightning and sunbeams!”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Contrasting the intellectual firepower of Ben Jonson and Shakespeare, depicting their rivalry as a dazzling battle of ideas.
In simple terms: Jonson and Shakespeare as fierce, brilliant rivals.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the value of intellectual competition.
Themes
literature
competition
wit
creativity
Mood
reflective
energetic
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- literary criticism
- debate clubs
Key Concepts
rhetoric
cultural rivalry
artistic brilliance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does rivalry spark innovation?
- When does competition become counterproductive?
A Different Perspective
One may dominate, stifling collaboration.