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

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

More quotes by Thomas Otway

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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
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Greatness, thou gaudy torment of out souls, The wise man's fetter, and the rage of fools.
Thomas Otway
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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
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Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.
Thomas Otway
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Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.
Thomas Otway
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I may boldly speak In right, though proud oppression will not hear me!
Thomas Otway
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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
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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
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Justice is lame as well as blind, amongst us.
Thomas Otway
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Shining through tears, like April suns in showers, that labor to overcome the cloud that loads em.
Thomas Otway
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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
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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
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Clocks will go as they are set, but man, irregular man, is never constant, never certain.
Thomas Otway
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Who's a prince or beggar in the grave?
Thomas Otway
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You wags that judge by rote, and damn by rule.
Thomas Otway
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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
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What mighty ills have not been done by woman! Who was't betray'd the Capitol? A woman Who lost Mark Antony the world? A woman Who was the cause of a long ten years' war, And laid at last old Troy is ashes? Woman Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman!
Thomas Otway
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No praying, it spoils business.
Thomas Otway
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Love reigns a very tyrant in my heart.
Thomas Otway
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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