John Gay Quotes
John Gay: a witty, lyrical style that speaks of love, war, and the tangled truths of relationships.
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'Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined.
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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.
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No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.
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Life is a jest; and all things show it. I thought so once; and now I know it.
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Whence thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?
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Where yet was ever found a mother Who'd give her booby for another?
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When we risk no contradiction, It prompts the tongue to deal in fiction.
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In beauty faults conspicuous grow; The smallest speck is seen on snow.
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In every age and clime we see Two of a trade can never agree.
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Those who in quarrels intepose Must often wipe a bloody nose.
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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.
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And when a lady's in the case, You know all other things give place.
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From wine what sudden friendship springs!
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By outward show let's not be cheated; An ass should like an ass be treated.
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Through all the Employments of Life Each Neighbour abuses his Brother; Whore and Rogue they call Husband and Wife: All Professions be-rogue one another: The Priest calls the Lawyer a Cheat, The Lawyer be-knaves the Divine: And the Statesman, because he's so great, Thinks his Trade as honest as mine.
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You know, my Dear, I never meddle in matters of Death; I always leave those Affairs to you. Women indeed are bitter bad Judges in these cases, for they are so partial to the Brave that they think every Man handsome who is going to the Camp or the Gallows.
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How the mother is to be pitied who hath handsome daughters! Locks, bolts, bars, and lectures of morality are nothing to them: they break through them all. They have as much pleasure in cheating a father and mother, as in cheating at cards.
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Do you think your Mother and I should have liv'd comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married?
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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? There are not many husbands and wives, who can bear the charges of plaguing one another in a handsome way.
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O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, By keeping men off, you keep them on.
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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.
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Macheath: And I would love you all the day, Polly: Every night would kiss and play, Macheath: If with me you'd fondly stray Polly: Over the hills and far away.
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Fill ev'ry glass, for wine inspires us, And fires us With courage, love and joy. Women and wine should life employ. Is there ought else on earth desirous?
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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.
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I must have women-there is nothing unbends the mind like them.
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Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty.
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Before the Barn-Door crowing, The Cock by Hens attended, His Eyes around him throwing, Stands for a while suspended: Then One he singles from the Crew, And cheers the happy Hen; With how do you do, and how do you do, And how do you do again.
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Man may escape from rope and gun; Nay, some have outlived the doctor's pill: Who takes a woman must be undone, That basilisk is sure to kill. The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets, So he that tastes woman, woman, woman, He that tastes woman, ruin meets.
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You base man you,-how can you look me in the face after what hath passed between us?-See here, perfidious wretch, how I am forc'd to bear about the load of infamy you have laid upon me- -O Macheath! thou hast robb'd me of my quiet-to see thee tortur'd would give me pleasure.
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Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!
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How happy could I be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away!
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How happy I am, if you say this from your heart! For I love thee so, that I could sooner bear to see thee hang'd than in the Arms of another.
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If love be not his Guide, He never will come back!
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Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either.
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I don't enquire after your Affairs-- --so whatever happens, I wash my hands on't---- It hath always been my Maxim, that one Friend should assist another-- --But if you please----I'll take one of the Scarfs home with me. 'Tis always good to have something in Hand.
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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.
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Here Shock, the pride of all his kind, is laid, Who fawned like man, but ne'er like man betrayed.
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On the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.
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Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.
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Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.
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'T is woman that seduces all mankind; By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.
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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.
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Let firm, well hammer'd soles protect thy feet Through freezing snows, and rains, and soaking sleet; Should the big last extend the shoe too wide, Each stone will wrench the unwary step aside; The sudden turn may stretch the swelling vein, The cracking joint unhinge, or ankle sprain; And when too short the modish shoes are worn, You'll judge the seasons by your shooting corn.
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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.
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[Gulliver was soon being read] "from the cabinet council to the nursery".
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Exercise thy lasting youth defends.
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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.
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Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.
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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.
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Look round, the wrecks of play behold; Estates dismember'd, mortgaged, sold! Their owners now to jails confin'd, Show equal poverty of mind.
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I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. . . . . My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much must talk in vain.
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But money, wife, is the true Fuller's Earth for reputations, there is not a spot or a stain but what it can take out.
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She who has never lov'd, has never liv'd.
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So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.
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If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.
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The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.
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Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view.
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Envy's a sharper spur than pay.
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You can only be called a hypocrite if you judge others first.
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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.
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Give me, kind heaven, a private station, a mind serene for contemplation.
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There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self.
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Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but 'tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.
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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.
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In love we are all fools alike.