John Gay Quotes

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.

She who has never lov'd, has never liv'd.

One wife is too much for most husbands to bear, But two at a time there's no mortal can bear.

Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!

To cheat a man isnothing; but the womanmust have fine parts indeed who cheats a woman!

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.

When we risk no contradiction, It prompts the tongue to deal in fiction.

To friendship every burden's light.

Variety's the source of joy below, From whence still fresh-revolving pleasures flow, In books and love the mind one end pursues, And only change the expiring flames renews.

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?

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.

Shall ignorance of good and ill Dare to direct the eternal will? Seek virtue, and of that possest, To Providence resign the rest.

In every age and clime we see Two of a trade can never agree.

If with me you'd fondly stray Over the hills and far away.

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.

No author ever spar'd a brother.

[Gulliver was soon being read] "from the cabinet council to the nursery".

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.

So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.

The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.

Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either.

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

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

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

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

In beauty faults conspicuous grow; The smallest speck is seen on snow.

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.

What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She gratefully receives what Heav'n has sent, And, rich in poverty, enjoys content.

Whoever heard a man of fortune in England talk of the necessaries of life? . . . Whether we can afford it or no, we must have superfluities.

Breathe soft, ye winds! ye waves, in silence sleep!

To shoot at crows is powder flung away.

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.

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.

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

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