--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: MOS: And besides, sir, You are not like a…" description: "\"“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 smalle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg" --- # MOS: And besides, sir, You are not like a thresher that… ![“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…” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg) > ““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](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. The speaker criticizes a patron for hoarding wealth while neglecting the needy, using vivid agricultural and commercial metaphors to highlight hypocrisy. **In simple terms:** A rich person hoards while ignoring the poor. Key Takeaway Share resources, avoid selfishness. Themes wealth hypocrisy generosity social responsibility class Mood critical reflective Type ethical social commentary When to use this quote - court patronage - charitable giving - social inequality - personal ethics - public policy Key Concepts economics morality altruism power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal wealth with helping others? - What societal structures encourage hoarding? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate, and not all wealthy individuals are neglectful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feed Sumptuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feed-sumptuous-2492437/) [Feeds Mallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeds-mallows-2492438/) [Like Thresher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-thresher-2492440/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Sumptuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sumptuous/) [Worms Feed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worms-feed-2492439/) ## Related quotes > [It is with the approach of winter that cats...wear their richest fur and assume an air of sumptuous and delightful opulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-loti/it-is-with-the-approach-of-winter-that-cats-wear-their-richest-fur/) [Pierre Loti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-loti/) > [I thought 'Skyfall' was a sumptuous film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-smith/i-thought-skyfall-was-a-sumptuous-film/) [Matt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-smith/) > [Consider paint a film of light reflecting/absorbing material, and a colored paint a material which gives a particular, characteristic transmission of light via differential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-baer/consider-paint-a-film-of-light-reflecting-absorbing-material-and-a/) [Jo Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-baer/) > [Films about the English monarchy, they tend to have a lavishness, sumptuous imagery, it's all very posh and rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hooper/films-about-the-english-monarchy-they-tend-to-have-a-lavishness/) [Tom Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hooper/) > [Love, that is day and night - love, that is sun and moon and stars, Love, that is crimson, sumptuous, sick with perfume, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/love-that-is-day-and-night-love-that-is-sun-and-moon-and-stars-love/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counterreformist and has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-am-firmly-of-the-opinion-that-the-macintosh-is-catholic-and-that/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Thus did I keep my person fresh and new, My presence, like a robe pontifical, Ne'er seen but wondered at, and so my state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thus-did-i-keep-my-person-fresh-and-new-my-presence-like-a-robe/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you follow the suburban fashion in building a sumptuous- looking house for a little money, it will appear to all eyes as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-you-follow-the-suburban-fashion-in-building-a-sumptuous-looking/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People who want to live like Olympian gods must have slaves whom they throw into their fishponds and gladiators who fight during their masters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/people-who-want-to-live-like-olympian-gods-must-have-slaves-whom-they/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [There is a sumptuous variety about the New England weather... In the spring I have counted one hundred and twenty-six different kinds of weather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-a-sumptuous-variety-about-the-new-england-weather-in-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A rose to the living is more Than sumptuous wreaths to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nixon-waterman/a-rose-to-the-living-is-more-than-sumptuous-wreaths-to-the-dead/) [Nixon Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nixon-waterman/) > [If pale beans bubble for you in a red earthenware pot, you can often decline the dinners of sumptuous hosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/if-pale-beans-bubble-for-you-in-a-red-earthenware-pot-you-can-often/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [The mask means to me: freshness of color, sumptuous decoration, wild unexpected gestures, very shrill expressions, exquisite turbulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ensor/the-mask-means-to-me-freshness-of-color-sumptuous-decoration-wild/) [James Ensor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ensor/) > [His sumptuous tents, and those of his satraps, afforded an immense booty to the conqueror; and an incident is mentioned which proves the rustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/his-sumptuous-tents-and-those-of-his-satraps-afforded-an-immense/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It is very grand and sumptuous and awesome to look at but it was really about the characters for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/it-is-very-grand-and-sumptuous-and-awesome-to-look-at-but-it-was/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) ## 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 Money quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/) [Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy/) > [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-french-johnson/the-man-who-works-for-the-gold-in-the-job-rather-than-for-the-money/) [Joseph French Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-french-johnson/) [Browse all 45,172 Money quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Jonson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-thresher-that-doth-stand-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Money" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-thresher-that-doth-stand-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/ben-jonson-1371_money_mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-t_1048346.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“MOS: And besides, sir, You are not like a thresher that doth stand With a huge flail, watching a heap of…” — 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": "“MOS: And besides, sir, You are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-thresher-that-doth-stand-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/mos-and-besides-sir-you-are-not-like-a-thresher-that-doth-stand-with/#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 } } ] } ```