All well bred persons lie - Besides, you are a woman; you must never speak what you think.
William CongreveHonor is a public enemy, and conscience a domestic, and he that would secure his pleasure, must pay a tribute to one and go halves with t'other.
William CongreveI know a lady that loves to talk so incessantly, she won't give an echo fair play; she has that everlasting rotation of tongue that an echo must wait till she dies before it can catch her last words!
William CongreveThey are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.
William CongreveMarriage indeed may qualify the fury of his passion, but it very rarely mends a man's manners.
William CongreveYou are a woman: you must never speak what you think; your words must contradict your thoughts, but your actions may contradict your words.
William CongreveGuilt is ever at a loss, and confusion waits upon it; when innocence and bold truth are always ready for expression.
William CongreveMr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant: "Only with those in verse.... I never pin up my hair with prose."
William CongreveThus in this sad, but oh, too pleasing state! my soul can fix upon nothing but thee; thee it contemplates, admires, adores, nay depends on, trusts on you alone.
William CongreveA woman only obliges a man to secrecy, that she may have the pleasure of telling herself.
William CongreveA hungry wolf at all the herd will run, In hopes, through many, to make sure of one.
William CongreveLove's but the frailty of the mind, When 'tis not with ambition joined; A sickly flame, which if not fed expires; And feeding, wastes in self-consuming fires.
William CongreveThere are come Critics so with Spleen diseased, They scarcely come inclining to be pleased: And sure he must have more than mortal Skill, Who please one against his Will.
William CongreveIn my conscience I believe the baggage loves me, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else to rail at me.
William CongreveShe once used me with that insolence, that in revenge I took her to pieces; sifted her, and separated her failings; I studied 'em, and got 'em by rote. The catalogue was so large, that I was not without hopes, one day or other to hate her heartily.
William CongreveHe who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.
William Congreve'Tis well enough for a servant to be bred at an University. But the education is a little too pedantic for a gentleman.
William CongreveThere is in true Beauty, as in Courage, somewhat which narrow Souls cannot dare to admire.
William CongreveA wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.
William CongreveThus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure; Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.
William CongreveShe likes herself, yet others hates, For that which in herself she prizes; And while she laughs at them, forgets She is the thing that she despises.
William CongreveThey come together like the Coroner's Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.
William CongreveMusic has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak. I've read that things inanimate have moved, and, as with living souls, have been inform'd, by magic numbers and persuasive sound.
William CongreveThese articles subscribed, if I continue to endure you a little longer, I may by degrees dwindle into wife.
William CongreveEvery man plays the fool once in his live, but to marry is playing the fool all one's life long.
William Congreve