Quote

Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother Wits are gamecocks to one another.

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
Wit
Author
Envy
Spar
Brother
Sharper
Pay
Authorship
Another
Spur
Ever
Wits
Spurs

More quotes by John Gay

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She who has never lov'd, has never liv'd.
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Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.
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I must have women - there is nothing unbends the mind like them.
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Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?
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The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.
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Praising all alike, is praising none.
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Fair words cost nothing.
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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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[Gulliver was soon being read] from the cabinet council to the nursery.
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To friendship every burden's light.
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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.
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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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Some folks of cider make a rout And cider's well enough no doubt When better liquors fail But wine, that's richer, better still, Ev'n wine itself (deny't who will) Must yield to nappy ale
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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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Learning by study must be won 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.
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Gamesters and highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives.
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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.
John Gay
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Can you support the expense of a husband, hussy, in gaming, drinking and whoring? Have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man and wife about who shall squander most?
John Gay
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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.
John Gay