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Who hath not heard the rich complain Of surfeits, and corporeal pain? He barr'd from every use of wealth, Envies the ploughman's strength and health.

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
Wealth
Envies
Heard
Corporeal
Rich
Complain
Pain
Hath
Use
Complaining
Every
Envy
Strength
Barr
Health
Ploughman

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Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.
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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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A man is always afraid of a woman that loves him too much
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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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If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.
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Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of prey, man is the only sociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbor, and yet we herd together.
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O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.
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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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Fair is the marigold, for pottage meet.
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Can love be controll'd by advice?
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Praising all alike, is praising none.
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[Gulliver was soon being read] from the cabinet council to the nursery.
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To shoot at crows is powder flung away.
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No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.
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Nor love, not honor, wealth nor power, can give the heart a cheerful hour when health is lost. Be timely wise With health all taste of pleasure flies.
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Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.
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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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The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.
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In beauty faults conspicuous grow The smallest speck is seen on snow.
John Gay