John Gay Quotes

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

While there is life there 's hope, he cried.

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

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

Envy is a kind of praise.

Macheath: And I would love you all the day, Polly: Every night would kiss and play, Macheath: If with me you’d fondly stray Polly: Over the hills and far away.

All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd.

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

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

How happy I am, if you say this from your heart! For I love thee so, that I could sooner bear to see thee hang'd than in the Arms of another.

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.

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.

As we live by the Muses, it is but a Gratitude in us to encourage Poetical Merit wherever we find it. The Muses, contrary to all other Ladies, pay no Distinction to Dress, and never partially mistake the Pertness of Embroidery for Wit, nor the Modesty of Want for Dulness. Be the Author who he will, we push his Play as far as it will go. So (though you are in Want) I wish you success heartily.

And when a lady's in the case,
You know all other things give place.

You base man you,—how can you look me in the face after what hath passed between us?—See here, perfidious wretch, how I am forc'd to bear about the load of infamy you have laid upon me— -O Macheath! thou hast robb'd me of my quiet—to see thee tortur'd would give me pleasure.