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… — William Congreve Copy Share Image
Words are the weak support of cold indifference; love has no language to be heard. — William Congreve Copy Share 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… — William Congreve Copy Share Image
He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views. — William Congreve Copy Share Image
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing, through the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly… — William Congreve Copy Share Image
“One no more owes one's beauty to a lover than one's wit to an echo” — william congreve Copy Share Image
I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections. — William Congreve Copy Share 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 Copy Share Image
A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty. — William Congreve Copy Share Image
They are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom. — William Congreve Copy Share Image
There is in true Beauty, as in Courage, somewhat which narrow Souls cannot dare to admire. — William Congreve Copy Share Image
I am a fool, I know it; and yet, Heaven help me, I'm poor enough to be a wit. — William Congreve Copy Share Image
There is nothing more unbecoming a man of quality than to laugh ... 'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion! — William Congreve Copy Share Image
Honor is a public enemy, and conscience a domestic, and he that would secure his pleasure, must pay a tribute to one and go… — William Congreve Copy Share Image
