John Gay

Thus shadow owes its birth to light

— John Gay

In love we are all fools alike.

— John Gay

To shoot at crows is powder flung away.

— John Gay

Can love be controll'd by advice?

— John Gay

Envy is a kind of praise.

— John Gay

Who talks much, must talk in vain.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

In beauty, faults conspicuous grow; the smallest speck is seen on snow

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

“Life is a jest, and all things show it, I thought so once, and now I know it.”

— John Gay

Give me, kind heaven, a private station, a mind serene for contemplation.

— John Gay

Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?

— John Gay

To cheat a man isnothing; but the womanmust have fine parts indeed who cheats a woman!

— John Gay

On the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.

— John Gay

My lodging is on the cold ground, And hard, very hard, is my fare, But that which grieves me more Is the…

— John Gay

Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother; Wits are gamecocks to one another.

— John Gay

I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. . . . . My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks…

— John Gay

Some folks of cider make a rout And cider's well enough no doubt When better liquors fail; But wine, that's richer, better…

— John Gay

Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined.

— John Gay

Why is the hearse with scutcheons blazon'd round, And with the nodding plume of ostrich crown'd? No; the dead know it not,…

— John Gay

But money, wife, is the true Fuller's Earth for reputations, there is not a spot or a stain but what it can…

— John Gay

The sun was set; the night came on apace, And falling dews bewet around the place; The bat takes airy rounds on…

— John Gay

To frame the little animal, provide All the gay hues that wait on female pride: Let Nature guide thee; sometimes golden wire…

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

Tis woman that seduces all mankind, By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.

— John Gay

How happy could I be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away!

— John Gay

'While there is life, there's hope,' he cried; 'Then why such haste?' so groaned and died

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.

— John Gay

The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.

— John Gay

To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who cheats a woman

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self.

— John Gay

The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.

— John Gay

Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judged a partner in the trade.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.

— John Gay

An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse.

— John Gay