John Gay Quotes

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.

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

Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!

Thus shadow owes its birth to light.

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

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

Envy's a sharper spur than pay.

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

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.

Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judged a partner in the trade.

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.

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

She who has never loved has never lived.

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

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.

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.

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.

Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.

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?

Love is so whimsical in both sexes that it is impossible to be lasting. But my heart is particular and contradicts my own observation.

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

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

Some folks of cider make a rout
And cider's well enough no doubt
When better liquors fail;
But wine, that's richer, better still,
Ev'n wine itself (deny't who will)
Must yield to nappy ale

Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.

On the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.

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.

You can only be called a hypocrite if you judge others first.

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.

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

The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.

Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either.

To shoot at crows is powder flung away.

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

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.

Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but 'tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.

Praising all alike, is praising none.

What will not luxury taste? Earth, sea, and air, Are daily ransack'd for the bill of fare. Blood stuffed in skins is British Christians' food, And France robs marshes of the croaking brood.

Who talks much, must talk in vain.

My lodging is on the cold ground, And hard, very hard, is my fare, But that which grieves me more Is the coldness of my dear.

By outward show let's not be cheated; An ass should like an ass be treated.

My Own Epitaph
Life's a jest, and all things show it.
I thought so once, and now I know it.

Can love be controll'd by advice?

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.

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

How, like a moth, the simple maid Still plays around the flame!

Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of prey, man is the only sociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbor, and yet we herd together.

In love we are all fools alike.

Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.

Envy is a kind of praise.

Good housewives all the winter's rage despise, Defended by the riding-hood's disguise; Or, underneath the umbrella's oily shade, Safe through the wet on clinking pattens tread, Let Persian dames the unbrella's ribs display, To guard their beauties from the sunny ray; Or sweating slaves support the shady load, When eastern monarchs show their state abroad; Britain in winter only knows its aid, To guard from chilling showers the walking maid.

What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes

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.

A rich rogue nowadays is fit company for any gentleman; and the world, my dear, hath not such a contempt for roguery as you imagine.

A woman's friendship ever ends in love.

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

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

But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the rest.

When we risk no contradiction, It prompts the tongue to deal in fiction.

Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty.

The careful insect 'midst his works I view,
Now from the flowers exhaust the fragrant dew,
With golden treasures load his little thighs,
And steer his distant journey through the skies.

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

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

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

One wife is too much for most husbands to bear, But two at a time there's no mortal can bear.

MRS. PEACHUM
How the mother is to be pitied who has handsome daughters! Locks, bolts, bars and lectures of morality are nothing to them – they break through them all.

Of all mechanics, of all servile handycrafts-men, a gamester is the vilest. But yet, as many of the quality are of the profession, he is admitted amongst the politest company.

The charge is prepared; the lawyers are met; The judges all ranged (a terrible show!) I go, undismay'd. For death is a debt, A debt on demand. So take what I owe.

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