John Gay Quotes

108 Sourced Quotes

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

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

John Gay
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.

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

John Gay
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.

John Gay
An open foe may prove a curse,
But a pretended friend is worse.

John Gay
If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.

John Gay
But flattery never seems absurd;
The flattered always takes your word.

John Gay
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.

John Gay
Love, then, hath every bliss in store;
'Tis friendship, and 'tis something more.
Each other every wish they give;
Not to know love is not to live.

John Gay
How, like a moth, the simple maid
Still plays about the flame!

John Gay
Excuse me, then! you know my heart;
But dearest friends, alas! must part.

John Gay
An inconstant woman, tho' she has no chance to be very happy, can never be very unhappy.

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

John Gay
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.

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
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.

John Gay
A woman scorn'd is pitiless as fate,
For then the dread of shame adds stings to hate.

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

John Gay
In every rank, or great or small, 'Tis industry supports us all.

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
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.

John Gay
Who hath not heard the rich complain Of surfeits, and corporeal pain? He barr'd from every use of wealth, Envies the ploughman's strength and health.

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

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

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

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

John Gay
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.

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

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

John Gay