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John Gay Quotes
108 Sourced Quotes
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Those who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.
John Gay
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Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.
John Gay
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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
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'Twas when the seas were roaring
With hollow blasts of wind,
A damsel lay deploring,
All on a rock reclined.
John Gay
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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.
John Gay
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An open foe may prove a curse,
But a pretended friend is worse.
John Gay
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If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
John Gay
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But flattery never seems absurd;
The flattered always takes your word.
John Gay
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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.
John Gay
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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
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How, like a moth, the simple maid
Still plays about the flame!
John Gay
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Excuse me, then! you know my heart;
But dearest friends, alas! must part.
John Gay
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An inconstant woman, tho' she has no chance to be very happy, can never be very unhappy.
John Gay
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I must have women—there is nothing unbends the mind like them.
John Gay
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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.
John Gay
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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
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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.
John Gay
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A woman scorn'd is pitiless as fate,
For then the dread of shame adds stings to hate.
John Gay
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By outward show let's not be cheated;
An ass should like an ass be treated.
John Gay
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In every rank, or great or small, 'Tis industry supports us all.
John Gay
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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
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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.
John Gay
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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
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Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judged a partner in the trade.
John Gay
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Of all the fools that pride can boast, A Coxcomb claims distinction most.
John Gay
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Learning by study must be won; 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.
John Gay
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Of all the plagues that heav'n hath sent, A wasp is most impertinent!
John Gay
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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.
John Gay
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Gamesters and highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives.
John Gay
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Here Shock, the pride of all his kind, is laid, Who fawned like man, but ne'er like man betrayed.
John Gay
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Quote of the day
Never, "for the sake of peace and quiet," deny your own experience or convictions.
Dag Hammarskjöld
John Gay
Creative Commons
Born:
June 30, 1685
Died:
December 4, 1732
(aged 47)
Bio:
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera, a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peachum, became household names.
Known for:
Trivia (1712)
The distress'd wife
The Beggar's Opera and Companion Pieces
Most used words:
woman
love
man
polly
wind
women
heart
mother
happy
brother
dear
hand
macheath
retreat
hate
John Gay on Wikipedia
John Gay works on Gutenberg Project
John Gay works on Wikisource
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