William Congreve

O, nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion.

— William Congreve

If this be not love, it is madness, and then it is pardonable.

— William Congreve

I am a fool, I know it; and yet, Heaven help me, I'm poor enough to be a wit.

— William Congreve

Music alone with sudden charms can bind The wand'ring sense, and calm the troubled mind.

— William Congreve

Men are apt to offend ('tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.

— William Congreve

These articles subscribed, if I continue to endure you a little longer, I may by degrees dwindle into wife.

— William Congreve

Say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved.

— William Congreve

I know that's a secret, for it's whispered everywhere.

— William Congreve

Would any thing but a madman complain of uncertainty? Uncertainty and expectation are joys of life; security is an insipid thing; and…

— William Congreve

Love's but the frailty of the mind, When 'tis not with ambition joined; A sickly flame, which if not fed expires; And…

— William Congreve

I know a lady that loves to talk so incessantly, she won't give an echo fair play; she has that everlasting rotation…

— William Congreve

In my conscience I believe the baggage loves me, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else…

— William Congreve

There are come Critics so with Spleen diseased, They scarcely come inclining to be pleased: And sure he must have more than…

— William Congreve

There is nothing more unbecoming a man of quality than to laugh ... 'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion!

— William Congreve

Come, come, leave business to idlers, and wisdom to fools: they have need of 'em: wit be my faculty, and pleasure my…

— William Congreve

Nature, to each allots his proper Sphere, But, that forsaken, we like Comets err: Toss'd thro' the Void, by some rude Shock…

— William Congreve

“Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.”

— William Congreve

There is in true beauty, as in courage, something which narrow souls cannot dare to admire.

— William Congreve

I am always of the opinion with the learned, if they speak first.

— William Congreve

Believe it, Men have ever been the same, And all the Golden Age is but a Dream.

— William Congreve

It is the business of a comic poet to paint the vices and follies of human kind.

— William Congreve

Nothing but you can lay hold of my mind, and that can lay hold of nothing but you.

— William Congreve

There is in true Beauty, as in Courage, somewhat which narrow Souls cannot dare to admire.

— William Congreve