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

More quotes by John Gay

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Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.
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Can love be controll'd by advice?
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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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Fair is the marigold, for pottage meet.
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O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.
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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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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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Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.
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Envy's a sharper spur than pay.
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Around the steel no tortur'd worm shall twine, No blood of living insect stain my line Let me, less cruel, cast the feather'd hook, With pliant rod athwart the pebbled brook, Silent along the mazy margin stray, And with the fur-wrought fly delude the prey.
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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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Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but 'tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.
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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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Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?
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No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.
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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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Fill ev'ry glass, 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?
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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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She who has never lov'd, has never liv'd.
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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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