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Wit must be foiled by wit: cut a diamond with a diamond.

William Congreve

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William Congreve
Age: 58 †
Born: 1670
Born: January 24
Died: 1729
Died: January 19
Engineer
Librettist
Playwright
Poet
Translator
Writer
Must
Foiled
Jewelry
Diamond
Wit
Cutting

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Men are apt to offend ('tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.
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Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear.
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Honor is a public enemy, and conscience a domestic, and he that would secure his pleasure, must pay a tribute to one and go halves with t'other.
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I nauseate walking 'tis a country diversion, I loathe the country.
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A hungry wolf at all the herd will run, In hopes, through many, to make sure of one.
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Come, come, leave business to idlers, and wisdom to fools: they have need of 'em: wit be my faculty, and pleasure my occupation, and let father Time shake his glass.
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I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
William Congreve
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Mr Witwould: Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies. Mrs Millamant: Only with those in verse.... I never pin up my hair with prose.
William Congreve
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Words are the weak support of cold indifference love has no language to be heard.
William Congreve
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Would any thing but a madman complain of uncertainty? Uncertainty and expectation are joys of life security is an insipid thing and the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly of the chase.
William Congreve
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Delay not till tomorrow to be wise tomorrow's sun to thee may neve rise.
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In my conscience I believe the baggage loves me, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else to rail at me.
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I hope you do not think me prone to any iteration of nuptials.
William Congreve
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There is nothing more unbecoming a man of quality than to laugh ... 'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion!
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I am a fool, I know it and yet, Heaven help me, I'm poor enough to be a wit.
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He that first cries out stop thief, is often he that has stolen the treasure.
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A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.
William Congreve
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Some by experience find those words mis-placed: At leisure married, they repent in haste.
William Congreve
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I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.
William Congreve
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I came up stairs into the world, for I was born in a cellar.
William Congreve