Quote

Honesty was a cheat invented first To bind the hands of bold deserving rogues, That fools and cowards might sit safe in power, And lord it uncontroll'd above their betters.

Thomas Otway

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Thomas Otway
Age: 33 †
Born: 1652
Born: March 3
Died: 1685
Died: April 14
Dramatist
Playwright
Poet
Writer
Trotton with Chithurst
West Sussex
Safe
Deserving
Lord
Bold
Hands
Cheat
Power
Coward
Might
Fools
Betters
Firsts
Invented
Rogues
First
Honesty
Cowards
Fool
Bind

More quotes by Thomas Otway

Image
Greatness, thou gaudy torment of out souls, The wise man's fetter, and the rage of fools.
Thomas Otway
Image
Oh woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man we had been brutes without you Angels are painted fair to look like you There's in you all that we believe of heaven, Amazing brightness, purity, and truth, Eternal joy, and everlasting love.
Thomas Otway
Image
No flattery, boy! an honest man cannot live by it it is a little, sneaking art, which knaves use to cajole and soften fools withal.
Thomas Otway
Image
Who can describe Women's hypocrisies! their subtle wiles, Betraying smiles, feign'd tears, inconstancies! Their painted outsides, and corrupted minds, The sum of all their follies, and their falsehoods.
Thomas Otway
Image
You talk to me in parables. You may have known that I'm no wordy man, Fine speeches are the instruments of knaves Or fools that use them, when they want good sense But honesty Needs no disguise nor ornament: be plain.
Thomas Otway
Image
Cowards are scared with threatenings boys are whipped into confession but a steady mind acts of itself, ne'er asks the body counsel.
Thomas Otway
Image
Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.
Thomas Otway
Image
Ere man's corruptions made him wretched, he Was born most noble that was born most free Each of himself was lord and unconfin'd Obey'd the dictates of his godlike mind.
Thomas Otway
Image
I may boldly speak In right, though proud oppression will not hear me!
Thomas Otway
Image
Shining through tears, like April suns in showers, that labor to overcome the cloud that loads em.
Thomas Otway
Image
Justice is lame as well as blind, amongst us.
Thomas Otway
Image
Love reigns a very tyrant in my heart.
Thomas Otway
Image
There is such sweet pain in parting that I could hang forever on thine arms, and look away my life into thine eyes.
Thomas Otway
Image
Revenge, the attribute of gods! They stamped it with their great image on our natures.
Thomas Otway
Image
Clocks will go as they are set, but man, irregular man, is never constant, never certain.
Thomas Otway
Image
Dame Fortune, like most others of the female sex, is generally most indulgent to the nimble-mettled blockheads.
Thomas Otway
Image
Who's a prince or beggar in the grave?
Thomas Otway
Image
You wags that judge by rote, and damn by rule.
Thomas Otway
Image
Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.
Thomas Otway
Image
If we must part for ever, Give me but one kind word to think upon, And please myself withal, whilst my heart's breaking!
Thomas Otway