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No mask like open truth to cover lies, As to go naked is the best disguise.

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
Naked
Honesty
Lies
Open
Lying
Deceit
Truth
Disguise
Best
Mask
Like
Cover

More quotes by William Congreve

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Marriage is honourable, as you say and if so, wherefore should Cuckoldom be a Discredit, being deriv'd from so honourable a Root?
William Congreve
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O, nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion.
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!
William Congreve
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One minute gives invention to destroy What to rebuild, will a whole age employ.
William Congreve
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Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast...
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Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.
William Congreve
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I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections.
William Congreve
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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.
William Congreve
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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.
William Congreve
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They are at the end of the gallery retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.
William Congreve
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Nothing but you can lay hold of my mind, and that can lay hold of nothing but you.
William Congreve
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There are come Critics so with Spleen diseased, They scarcely come inclining to be pleased: And sure he must have more than mortal Skill, Who please one against his Will.
William Congreve
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Love's but the frailty of the mind, When 'tis not with ambition joined A sickly flame, which if not fed expires And feeding, wastes in self-consuming fires.
William Congreve
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Invention flags, his brain goes muddy, And black despair succeeds brown study.
William Congreve
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There are times when sense may be unseasonable, as well as truth.
William Congreve
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Hannibal was a very pretty fellow in those days.
William Congreve
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To converse with Scandal is to play at Losing Loadum, you must lose a good name to him, before you can win it for yourself.
William Congreve
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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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A woman only obliges a man to secrecy, that she may have the pleasure of telling herself.
William Congreve
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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.
William Congreve