William Congreve

Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.

— William Congreve

“One no more owes one's beauty to a lover than one's wit to an echo”

— william congreve

If happiness in self-content is placed, The wise are wretched, and fools only blessed.

— William Congreve

Courtship is to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.

— William Congreve

All well bred persons lie - Besides, you are a woman; you must never speak what you think.

— William Congreve

They come together like the Coroner's Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.

— William Congreve

Though marriage makes man and wife one flesh, it leaves 'em still two fools.

— William Congreve

Women like flames have a destroying power; never to be quenched till they themselves devour.

— William Congreve

You are a woman: you must never speak what you think; your words must contradict your thoughts, but your actions may contradict…

— William Congreve

She likes herself, yet others hates, For that which in herself she prizes; And while she laughs at them, forgets She is…

— William Congreve

Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear.

— William Congreve

Mr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant:…

— William Congreve

Let us be very strange and well-bred:Let us be as strange as if we had been married a great while;And as well-bred…

— William Congreve

Guilt is ever at a loss, and confusion waits upon it; when innocence and bold truth are always ready for expression.

— William Congreve

Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for…

— William Congreve

To find a young fellow that is neither a wit in his own eye, nor a fool in the eye of the…

— William Congreve

A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.

— William Congreve

I hope you do not think me prone to any iteration of nuptials.

— William Congreve

Some by experience find those words mis-placed: At leisure married, they repent in haste.

— William Congreve

I always take blushing either for a sign of guilt, or of ill breeding.

— William Congreve

A wit should be no more sincere than a woman constant.

— William Congreve

A woman only obliges a man to secrecy, that she may have the pleasure of telling herself.

— William Congreve

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

— William Congreve

He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.

— William Congreve

Women are like tricks by sleight of hand, Which, to admire, we should not understand

— William Congreve

He that first cries out stop thief, is often he that has stolen the treasure.

— William Congreve

A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.

— William Congreve

Thou art a retailer of phrases, and dost deal in remnants of remnants.

— William Congreve

Wit must be foiled by wit: cut a diamond with a diamond.

— William Congreve

Words are the weak support of cold indifference; love has no language to be heard.

— William Congreve

Every man plays the fool once in his live, but to marry is playing the fool all one's life long.

— William Congreve

I nauseate walking; 'tis a country diversion, I loathe the country.

— William Congreve

Blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, and though a late, a sure reward succeeds

— William Congreve

I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.

— William Congreve

“Heav'n hath no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.”

— William Congreve

A hungry wolf at all the herd will run, In hopes, through many, to make sure of one.

— William Congreve

Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.

— William Congreve

Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.

— William Congreve

They are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.

— William Congreve

Love's but a frailty of the mind, When 'tis not with ambition joined.

— William Congreve