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

John Gay

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John Gay
Age: 47 †
Born: 1685
Born: June 30
Died: 1732
Died: December 4
Librettist
Playwright
Poet
Writer
Barnstaple
Devon
Snow
Faults
Grow
Seen
Grows
Speck
Beauty
Conspicuous
Specks
Smallest

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[Gulliver was soon being read] from the cabinet council to the nursery.
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In every age and clime we see Two of a trade can never agree.
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Can love be controll'd by advice?
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The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.
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No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.
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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.
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Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!
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I cannot raise my worth too high Of what vast consequence am I! Not of the importance you suppose, Replies a Flea upon his nose Be humble, learn thyself to scan Know, pride was never made for man.
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Shall ignorance of good and ill Dare to direct the eternal will? Seek virtue, and of that possest, To Providence resign the rest.
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To frame the little animal, provide All the gay hues that wait on female pride: Let Nature guide thee sometimes golden wire The shining bellies of the fly require The peacock's plumes thy tackle must not fail, Nor the dear purchase of the sable's tail.
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If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.
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Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.
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Breathe soft, ye winds! ye waves, in silence sleep!
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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.
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Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but 'tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.
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The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.
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Fair words cost nothing.
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The charge is prepared the lawyers are met The judges all ranged (a terrible show!) I go, undismay'd. For death is a debt, A debt on demand. So take what I owe.
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Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother Wits are gamecocks to one another.
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O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.
John Gay