John Gay Quotes

Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother; Wits are gamecocks to one another.

Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.

So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.

Is there no hope? the sick man said, The silent doctor shook his head, And took his leave with signs of sorrow, Despairing of his fee to-morrow.

To cheat a man isnothing; but the womanmust have fine parts indeed who cheats a woman!

What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And when we fly them, they pursue: But leave us when they've won us.

A man is always afraid of a woman that loves him too much

Were I laid on Greenland's Coast, And in my Arms embrac'd my Lass; Warm amidst eternal Frost, Too soon the Half Year's Night would pass.

I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame. Thus prudes, by characters o'erthrown, Imagine that they raise their own. Thus Scribblers, covetous of praise, Think slander can transplant the bays.

If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispell'd when a woman appears; Like the notes of a fiddle, she sweetly, sweetly Raises the spirits, and charms our ears.

What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She gratefully receives what Heav'n has sent, And, rich in poverty, enjoys content.

In beauty faults conspicuous grow; The smallest speck is seen on snow.

In every age and clime we see Two of a trade can never agree.

To friendship every burden's light.

Here Shock, the pride of all his kind, is laid, Who fawned like man, but ne'er like man betrayed.

To shoot at crows is powder flung away.

Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view.

Thus shadow owes its birth to light.

Gamesters and highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives.

Give me, kind heaven, a private station, a mind serene for contemplation.

O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.

Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.

I know you lawyers can with ease, Twist words and meanings as you please; That language, by your skill made pliant, Will bend to favour every client; That 'tis the fee directs the sense, To make out either side's pretense.

[Gulliver was soon being read] "from the cabinet council to the nursery".

The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.

To frame the little animal, provide All the gay hues that wait on female pride: Let Nature guide thee; sometimes golden wire The shining bellies of the fly require; The peacock's plumes thy tackle must not fail, Nor the dear purchase of the sable's tail.

If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.

I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. . . . . My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much must talk in vain.

Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.

Exercise thy lasting youth defends.

Whoever heard a man of fortune in England talk of the necessaries of life? . . . Whether we can afford it or no, we must have superfluities.

I cannot raise my worth too high; Of what vast consequence am I! "Not of the importance you suppose," Replies a Flea upon his nose; "Be humble, learn thyself to scan; Know, pride was never made for man.

Can you support the expense of a husband, hussy, in gaming, drinking and whoring? Have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man and wife about who shall squander most?

How happy could I be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away!

The sun was set; the night came on apace, And falling dews bewet around the place; The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And the hoarse owl his woeful dirges sings.

Nor love, not honor, wealth nor power, can give the heart a cheerful hour when health is lost. Be timely wise; With health all taste of pleasure flies.

Variety's the source of joy below, From whence still fresh-revolving pleasures flow, In books and love the mind one end pursues, And only change the expiring flames renews.

And when a lady's in the case, You know, all other things give place.

Learning by study must be won; 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.

Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!

A Wolf eats sheep but now and then; Ten thousands are devour'd by men. An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretend friend is worse.

Of all the fools that pride can boast, A Coxcomb claims distinction most.

I must have women - there is nothing unbends the mind like them.

Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.

Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?

There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self.

'T is woman that seduces all mankind; By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.

Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined.