John Gay Quotes

108 Sourced Quotes

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

John Gay
Those who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.

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

John Gay
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.

John Gay
If love be not his Guide,
He never will come back!

John Gay
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?

John Gay
Of all the plagues that heav'n hath sent, A wasp is most impertinent!

John Gay
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

John Gay
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.

John Gay
Reproachful speech from either side
The want of argument supplied;
They rail, reviled; as often ends
The contests of disputing friends.

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

John Gay
Money, wife, is the true fuller's earth for reputations, there is not a spot or a stain but what it can take out.

John Gay
I must have women—there is nothing unbends the mind like them.

John Gay
Remote from cities liv'd a swain,
Unvex'd with all the cares of gain;
His head was silver'd o'er with age,
And long experience made him sage.

John Gay
Look round, the wrecks of play behold; Estates dismember'd, mortgaged, sold! Their owners now to jails confin'd, Show equal poverty of mind.

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

John Gay
Why is the hearse with scutcheons blazon'd round, And with the nodding plume of ostrich crown'd? No; the dead know it not, nor profit gain; It only serves to prove the living vain.

John Gay
The Lion is (beyond dispute) Allow'd the most majestic brute; His valor and his gen'rous mind Prove him superior of his kind.

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

John Gay
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.

John Gay
If the heart of a man is depress'd with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.

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

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

John Gay
Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

John Gay
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.

John Gay