Quote

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

William Congreve

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

William Congreve
Age: 58 †
Born: 1670
Born: January 24
Died: 1729
Died: January 19
Engineer
Librettist
Playwright
Poet
Translator
Writer
Lies
Open
Deceit
Lying
Disguise
Truth
Mask
Best
Cover
Like
Naked
Honesty

More quotes by William Congreve

Image
O fie, miss, you must not kiss and tell.
William Congreve
Image
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.
William Congreve
Image
To find a young fellow that is neither a wit in his own eye, nor a fool in the eye of the world, is a very hard task.
William Congreve
Image
These articles subscribed, if I continue to endure you a little longer, I may by degrees dwindle into wife.
William Congreve
Image
Thou art a retailer of phrases, and dost deal in remnants of remnants.
William Congreve
Image
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
Image
I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.
William Congreve
Image
There are times when sense may be unseasonable, as well as truth.
William Congreve
Image
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
Image
Some by experience find those words mis-placed: At leisure married, they repent in haste.
William Congreve
Image
Men are apt to offend ('tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.
William Congreve
Image
Defer not till to-morrow to be wise, To-morrow's Sun to thee may never rise Or should to-morrow chance to cheer thy sight With her enlivening and unlook'd for light, How grateful will appear her dawning rays! As favours unexpected doubly please.
William Congreve
Image
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
Image
O, she is the antidote to desire.
William Congreve
Image
Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.
William Congreve
Image
Invention flags, his brain goes muddy, And black despair succeeds brown study.
William Congreve
Image
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
Image
There is in true Beauty, as in Courage, somewhat which narrow Souls cannot dare to admire.
William Congreve
Image
I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
William Congreve
Image
Delay not till tomorrow to be wise tomorrow's sun to thee may neve rise.
William Congreve