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Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires. François, Duc de La Rochefoucauld		Monday Jun 22, 2026
		Quotes: 53419 Authors: 9969

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

Quote Author: John Gay

John Gay

John Gay

John Gay (30 June 1685 - 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera (1728), set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peachum, became household names.

Other John Gay Quotes

The smallest speck is seen on snow.

Pride is increased by ignorance; those assume the most who know the least.

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

The brave love mercy, and delight to save.

The prince who kept the world in awe, the judge whose dictate fixed the law; The rich, the poor, the great, the small, are leveled; death confounds 'em all.

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

Pride is to the character, like the attic to the house the highest part, and generally the most empty.

Nor love, nor honour, wealth nor power, Can give the heart a cheerful hour When health is lost, be timely wise; With health all taste of pleasure flies.

I rage, I melt, I burn, the feeble God has stabbed me to the heart.

Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?

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.

Where yet was ever found a mother, who'd give her booby for another.

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 tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame.

Give me, kind Heaven, a private station, A mind serene for contemplation! Title and profit I resign; The pot of honour shall be mine.

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

The charge is prepar'd, the lawyers are met, The judges all ranged,a terrible show!

How happy could I be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away!

Now Cynthia, named fair regent of the night.

Adieu! she cries; and waved her lily hand.

All in the Downs the fleet was moored.

Those who in quarrels interpose Must often wipe a bloody nose.

A fox may steal your hens, sir .... If lawyers hand is feed, sir He steals your whole estate.

Life is a jest, and all things show it; I thought so once, but now I know it.

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.

If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.

Man may escape from rope and gun; Nay, some have outlived the doctor's pill: Who takes a woman must be undone, That basilisk is sure to kill. The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets, So he that tastes woman, woman, woman, He that tastes woman, ruin meets.

Where yet was ever found a mother Who'd give her booby for another?

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.

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

Praising all alike is praising none.

Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view.

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

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

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

From wine what sudden friendship springs!

Fill ev'ryglass, 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?

'T is woman that seduces all mankind; By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.

Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty.