Quotes By 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.

An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse.

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

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

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.

The brave love mercy, and delight to save.

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.

O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.

Shadow owes its birth to light.

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

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

She who has never loved has never lived.

Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.

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

No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.

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.

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

We only part to meet again.

The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife's spirits.

There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self.