John Gay quotes
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“Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.”
-- John Gay -
“Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, Nathaniel Cotton, Edward Moore (1826). “Gay's Fables and other poems: Cotton's visions in verse ; Moore's Fables for the female sex ; with sketches of the authors' lives”, p.20
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“There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self.”
-- John Gay -
“But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the rest.”
-- John Gay -
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“O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.”
-- John Gay -
“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.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1791). “The Beggar's Opera: A Comic Opera”, p.73
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“Envy is a kind of praise.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, Thomas Park (1808). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: In Three Volumes. Collated with the Best Editions:”, p.76
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“You can only be called a hypocrite if you judge others first.”
-- John Gay -
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“A man is always afraid of a woman that loves him too much”
-- John Gay -
“Nor love, not honor, wealth nor power, can give the heart a cheerful hour when health is lost. Be timely wise; With health all taste of pleasure flies.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1926). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: Including 'Polly', 'The Beggar's Opera' and Selections from the Other Dramatic Work”
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“Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty.”
-- John GaySource : 'The Beggar's Opera' (1728) act 2, sc. 4, air 22
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“The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.”
-- John Gay -
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“From kings to cobblers 'tis the same; Bad servants wound their masters' fame.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, O. F. Owen (1857). “The fables of John Gay illustrated”, p.202
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“I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame. Thus prudes, by characters o'erthrown, Imagine that they raise their own. Thus Scribblers, covetous of praise, Think slander can transplant the bays.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, Nathaniel Cotton, Edward Moore (1826). “Gay's Fables and other poems: Cotton's visions in verse ; Moore's Fables for the female sex ; with sketches of the authors' lives”, p.73
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“Thus shadow owes its birth to light.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, O. F. Owen (1857). “The fables of John Gay illustrated”, p.96
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“I know you lawyers can with ease, Twist words and meanings as you please; That language, by your skill made pliant, Will bend to favour every client; That 'tis the fee directs the sense, To make out either side's pretense.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, Marcus Walsh (2003). “Selected Poems”, p.85, Taylor & Francis
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“One common fate we both must prove; You die with envy, I with love.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1779). “Fables ... In one volume complete”, p.103
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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 GaySource : John Gay (1854). “The Fables of John Gay Illustrated”, p.64
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“Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but 'tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.”
-- John GaySource : 1729 Polly
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“Envy's a sharper spur than pay.”
-- John GaySource : 'Fables' (1727) 'The Elephant and the Bookseller' l. 74
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“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.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1893). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: Translations, Prologues and epilogues, Fables, Poems from 'Gay's chair', Miscellaneous pieces, Songs and ballads”
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“And when a lady's in the case, You know, all other things give place.”
-- John GaySource : 'Fables' (1727) 'The Hare and Many Friends' l. 41
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“Who talks much, must talk in vain.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1863). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: With a Life of the Author”, p.5
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“Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay, Thomas Park (1808). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: In Three Volumes. Collated with the Best Editions:”
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“What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1761). “Poems on Several Occasions... by Mr. John Gay...”, p.236
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“A woman's friendship ever ends in love.”
-- John GaySource : 'Dione' (1720) act 4, sc. 6
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“One wife is too much for most husbands to bear, But two at a time there's no mortal can bear.”
-- John GaySource : John Gay (1818). “The Beggar's Opera”, p.41
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