John Gay Quotes

Quotes about:

• Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.

  John Gay

  Love, Confused, Fleeing

  51 Copy quote

• Envy is a kind of praise.

  John Gay

  Envy, Kind, Praise

  John Gay, Thomas Park (1808). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: In Three Volumes. Collated with the Best Editions:”, p.76

  24 Copy quote

• Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.

  John Gay

  Love, Bravery, Coward

  John Gay, Nathaniel Cotton, Edward Moore (1826). “Gay's Fables and other poems: Cotton's visions in verse ; Moore's Fables for the female sex ; with sketches of the authors' lives”, p.20

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• Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of prey, man is the only sociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbor, and yet we herd together.

  John Gay

  Men, Animal, Together

  John Gay (1791). “The Beggar's Opera: A Comic Opera”, p.73

  25 Copy quote

• You can only be called a hypocrite if you judge others first.

  John Gay

  Hypocrite, Judging, Judgement

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• Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty.

  John Gay

  Love, Joy, Youth

  'The Beggar's Opera' (1728) act 2, sc. 4, air 22

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• A man is always afraid of a woman that loves him too much

  John Gay

  Men, Too Much

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• Thus shadow owes its birth to light.

  John Gay

  Light, Shadow, Light And Shadow

  John Gay, O. F. Owen (1857). “The fables of John Gay illustrated”, p.96

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• Nor love, not honor, wealth nor power, can give the heart a cheerful hour when health is lost. Be timely wise; With health all taste of pleasure flies.

  John Gay

  Wise, Heart, Giving

  John Gay (1926). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: Including 'Polly', 'The Beggar's Opera' and Selections from the Other Dramatic Work”

  19 Copy quote

• A Wolf eats sheep but now and then; Ten thousands are devour'd by men. An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretend friend is worse.

  John Gay

  Men, Sheep, May

  John Gay (1854). “The Fables of John Gay Illustrated”, p.64

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• I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame. Thus prudes, by characters o'erthrown, Imagine that they raise their own. Thus Scribblers, covetous of praise, Think slander can transplant the bays.

  John Gay

  Hate, Character, Men

  John Gay, Nathaniel Cotton, Edward Moore (1826). “Gay's Fables and other poems: Cotton's visions in verse ; Moore's Fables for the female sex ; with sketches of the authors' lives”, p.73

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• From kings to cobblers 'tis the same; Bad servants wound their masters' fame.

  John Gay

  Kings, Cobblers, Fame

  John Gay, O. F. Owen (1857). “The fables of John Gay illustrated”, p.202

  18 Copy quote

• Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but 'tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.

  John Gay

  Musician, Might, Beast

  1729 Polly

  6 Copy quote

• I know you lawyers can with ease, Twist words and meanings as you please; That language, by your skill made pliant, Will bend to favour every client; That 'tis the fee directs the sense, To make out either side's pretense.

  John Gay

  Skills, Twists, Ease

  John Gay, Marcus Walsh (2003). “Selected Poems”, p.85, Taylor & Francis

  18 Copy quote

• One common fate we both must prove; You die with envy, I with love.

  John Gay

  Fate, Envy, Common

  John Gay (1779). “Fables ... In one volume complete”, p.103

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• Who talks much, must talk in vain.

  John Gay

  Vain

  John Gay (1863). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: With a Life of the Author”, p.5

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• Envy's a sharper spur than pay.

  John Gay

  Envy, Spurs, Pay

  'Fables' (1727) 'The Elephant and the Bookseller' l. 74

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• The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.

  John Gay

  Luxury, Giving, Doing Good

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• A woman's friendship ever ends in love.

  John Gay

  Ends

  'Dione' (1720) act 4, sc. 6

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• Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.

  John Gay

  Animal, Men, Pet

  John Gay (1805). “Gay's Fables, etc”, p.23

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• And when a lady's in the case, You know, all other things give place.

  John Gay

  Women, Giving, Cases

  'Fables' (1727) 'The Hare and Many Friends' l. 41

  20 Copy quote

• What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes

  John Gay

  Jealousy, Believe, Frenzy

  John Gay (1761). “Poems on Several Occasions... by Mr. John Gay...”, p.236

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• Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.

  John Gay

  Blow, Daisies, Meadows

  John Gay, Thomas Park (1808). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: In Three Volumes. Collated with the Best Editions:”

  14 Copy quote

• Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!

  John Gay

  Women, Lying, Believe

  John Gay (1791). “The Beggar's Opera: A Comic Opera. By John Gay. Adapted for Theatrical Representation, as Performed at the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane. Regulated from the Prompt-book, ...”, p.65

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• What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And when we fly them, they pursue: But leave us when they've won us.

  John Gay

  Love, Affection, Grows

  John Gay (1893). “The Poetical Works of John Gay: Translations, Prologues and epilogues, Fables, Poems from 'Gay's chair', Miscellaneous pieces, Songs and ballads”

  5 Copy quote

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