--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Minds that are great and free, should not…" description: "\"Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause.\" — Ben Jonson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png" --- # Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune… ![“Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause.” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png) > “Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause.” [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True virtue thrives without external rewards, finding its own satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Virtue is its own reward. Key Takeaway Pursue integrity for its own sake. Themes ethics philosophy self-worth Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - education Key Concepts virtue ethics inner fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you beyond praise? - Can virtue exist without recognition? A Different Perspective External validation can still influence behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Crown Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crown-virtue-1416211/) [Crowns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowns/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Free Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-fortune-1416212/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Minds Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds-great/) [Pauses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauses/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-applause-1416210/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [The muses crown virtue when fortune refuses to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-muses-crown-virtue-when-fortune-refuses-to-do-it/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Some great minds become great by turning the rubble of an exploded paradigm into something consistent and meaningful. Others become great by laying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/some-great-minds-become-great-by-turning-the-rubble-of-an-exploded/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [“Bringing countries together above their conflicts require great minds and great hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/bringing-countries-together-above-their-conflicts-require-great-minds/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“Great minds with great ideas usually share in the midst of their persecution”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-aldana/great-minds-with-great-ideas-usually-share-in-the-midst-of-their/) [Jeremy Aldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-aldana/) > [How many minds--almost all the great ones--were formed in secrecy and solitude!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/how-many-minds-almost-all-the-great-ones-were-formed-in-secrecy-and/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Jazz was not only built in the minds of the great ones, but on the backs of the ordinary ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cab-calloway/jazz-was-not-only-built-in-the-minds-of-the-great-ones-but-on-the/) [Cab Calloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cab-calloway/) > [When you put two great minds, great things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/when-you-put-two-great-minds-great-things-can-happen/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [If Uber wants to catch up to Google and be the leader in autonomy, we have to have the best minds. We have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/if-uber-wants-to-catch-up-to-google-and-be-the-leader-in-autonomy-we/) [Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/) > [There is no place for little minds in a great work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-hall/there-is-no-place-for-little-minds-in-a-great-work/) [Manly Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-hall/) > [Inside the calm minds, great ideas swim serenely like the morning geese of the misty lakes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/inside-the-calm-minds-great-ideas-swim-serenely-like-the-morning/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You know how it is in the symphony when you are listening to the symphony, the last notes die away, and there's often a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/you-know-how-it-is-in-the-symphony-when-you-are-listening-to-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Soul of the age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Soul of the age! The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare , rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my-2/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Pause before you get home and prepare your heart. A peaceful heart leads to a peaceful atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-burns/pause-before-you-get-home-and-prepare-your-heart-a-peaceful-heart/) [Jim Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-burns/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) ## More by Ben Jonson > [Soul of the Age! The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer, or Spenser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/heaven-prepares-good-men-with-crosses-but-no-ill-can-happen-to-a-good/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-dignity-of-truth-is-lost-with-much-protesting/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/true-melancholy-breeds-your-perfect-fine-wit/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Leave a kiss but in the cup, and I'll not look for wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/leave-a-kiss-but-in-the-cup-and-i-ll-not-look-for-wine/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/all-discourses-but-my-own-afflict-me-they-seem-harsh-impertinent-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“drink to the cause, and pure vapours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/drink-to-the-cause-and-pure-vapours/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/spread-yourself-upon-his-bosom-publicly-whose-heart-you-would-eat-in/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [That old bald cheater, Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/that-old-bald-cheater-time/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Rich apparel has strange virtues; it makes him that hath it without means esteemed for an excellent wit; he that enjoys it with means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/rich-apparel-has-strange-virtues-it-makes-him-that-hath-it-without/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The way to rise is to obey and please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-way-to-rise-is-to-obey-and-please/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-covetous-man-never-has-money-the-prodigal-will-have-none-shortly/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Fortune, that favors fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/fortune-that-favors-fools/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) [Explore all 249 Ben Jonson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## More Applause quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) [Oem Software Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oem-software-buy/) [Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own applause.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Jonson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not-on-fortune-pause-tis-crown/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Applause" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not-on-fortune-pause-tis-crown/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/ben-jonson-1371_applause_minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not_2539121.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Minds that are great and free, should not on fortune pause: 'Tis crown enough to virtue still, her own…” — Ben Jonson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Jonson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Minds that are great and free,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not-on-fortune-pause-tis-crown/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/minds-that-are-great-and-free-should-not-on-fortune-pause-tis-crown/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```