--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Popular men, They must create strange…" description: "\"Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.\" — Ben Jonson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png" --- # Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then… ![“Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png) > “Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.” [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. Artists often invent problems to showcase their skill, then resolve them to appear competent. **In simple terms:** Creators make challenges to look impressive. Key Takeaway Be wary of creating problems to boost reputation. Themes creativity ego control Mood critical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business leadership - political strategy - artistic critique - media manipulation Key Concepts self‑presentation problem‑generation Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever create obstacles to prove yourself? - How can you demonstrate skill without fabricating issues? A Different Perspective May lead to unnecessary conflict and wasted effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) ## Related quotes > [And though St. John saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-though-st-john-saw-many-strange-monsters-in-his-vision-he-saw-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you have one where you’re riding a horse or a camel? Or sitting on a rocket ship? Those are always wildly popular with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-daily/do-you-have-one-where-you-re-riding-a-horse-or-a-camel-or-sitting-on/) [Lisa Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-daily/) > [I think the most joyous thing in life is to loaf around and watch another bloke do a job of work. Look how popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/i-think-the-most-joyous-thing-in-life-is-to-loaf-around-and-watch/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Literature is always personal, always one man's vision of the world, one man's experience, and it can only be popular when men are ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literature-is-always-personal-always-one-man-s-vision-of-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form but with regard to their mode of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/men-create-gods-after-their-own-image-not-only-with-regard-to-their/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the nation's greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-men-who-create-power-make-an-indispensable-contribution-to-the-2/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Men create the gods in their own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/men-create-the-gods-in-their-own-image/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [When plunder becomes a way of life, men create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/when-plunder-becomes-a-way-of-life-men-create-for-themselves-a-legal/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Men create real miracles when they use their God-given courage and intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anouilh/men-create-real-miracles-when-they-use-their-god-given-courage-and/) [Jean Anouilh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anouilh/) > [Men create the gods after their own images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/men-create-the-gods-after-their-own-images/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Men who create art feel a zillion times happier than men who create wealth. Art lives on but wealth diminishes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/men-who-create-art-feel-a-zillion-times-happier-than-men-who-create/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Gods and men create one another, destroy one another, though by different means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/gods-and-men-create-one-another-destroy-one-another-though-by/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I want Poetry and Power and the young men who create it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-want-poetry-and-power-and-the-young-men-who-create-it/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [Oh these foolish men! They could not create so much as a worm, but they create gods by the dozens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/oh-these-foolish-men-they-could-not-create-so-much-as-a-worm-but-they/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Jonson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/popular-men-they-must-create-strange-monsters-and-then-quell-them-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/popular-men-they-must-create-strange-monsters-and-then-quell-them-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ben-jonson-1371_art_popular-men-they-must-create-strange-mon_2030319.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Popular men, They must create strange monsters, and then quell them, To make their arts seem something.” — 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": "Popular men, They must create strange...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/popular-men-they-must-create-strange-monsters-and-then-quell-them-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/popular-men-they-must-create-strange-monsters-and-then-quell-them-to/#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 } } ] } ```