Curse Quote by John Gay
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Beggar's Opera, 1728
Sheep are preyed upon, but humans cause far greater harm; false friends are more dangerous than open enemies.
In simple terms: Human cruelty exceeds animal predation; deceit is worse than open conflict.
Key Takeaway
Beware hidden betrayal.
Themes
trust
deception
human nature
Mood
cautionary
serious
Type
poetic
advisory
When to use this quote
- politics
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
predation
friendship
danger
Questions to Reflect On
- Who in your life might be a false friend?
- How do you detect hidden threats?
A Different Perspective
Open enemies can be easier to confront than hidden foes.
![“[Gulliver was soon being read] "from the cabinet council to the nursery".” quote by John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e62/john-gay-4141_cabinets_gulliver-was-soon-being-read-from-the-ca_403882.jpg)
