Quote

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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William Congreve
Age: 58 †
Born: 1670
Born: January 24
Died: 1729
Died: January 19
Engineer
Librettist
Playwright
Poet
Translator
Writer
Complaining
Madmen
Expectations
Possessing
Joy
Chase
Security
Expectation
Wish
Joys
Overtaking
Complain
Insipid
Thing
Uncertainty
Madman
Would
Folly
Discovers
Life

More quotes by William Congreve

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I hope you do not think me prone to any iteration of nuptials.
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Who pleases one against his will.
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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.
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These articles subscribed, if I continue to endure you a little longer, I may by degrees dwindle into wife.
William Congreve
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I nauseate walking 'tis a country diversion, I loathe the country.
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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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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.
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.
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If happiness in self-content is placed, The wise are wretched, and fools only blessed.
William Congreve
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Blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, and though a late, a sure reward succeeds.
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Guilt is ever at a loss, and confusion waits upon it when innocence and bold truth are always ready for expression.
William Congreve
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How hard a thing 'twould be to please you all.
William Congreve
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I always take blushing either for a sign of guilt, or of ill breeding.
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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No mask like open truth to cover lies, As to go naked is the best disguise.
William Congreve
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A little scorn is alluring.
William Congreve
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But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved. To pass our youth in dull indifference, to refuse the sweets of life because they once must leave us, is as preposterous as to wish to have been born old, because we one day must be old.
William Congreve
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If there's delight in love, 'Tis when I see that heart, which others bleed for, bleed for me.
William Congreve
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She likes herself, yet others hates, For that which in herself she prizes And while she laughs at them, forgets She is the thing that she despises.
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