William Congreve Quotes

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

'Tis well enough for a servant to be bred at an University.

But the education is a little too pedantic for a gentleman.

Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.

Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life.

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

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

She once used me with that insolence, that in revenge I took her to pieces;

sifted her, and separated her failings; I studied 'em, and got 'em by rote. The catalogue was so large, that I was not without hopes, one day or other to hate her heartily.

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

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

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

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

A sickly flame, which if not fed expires; And feeding, wastes in self-consuming fires.

Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for a poet is worse, more servile, timorous and fawning than any I have named.

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

A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant;

one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.

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 wish to have been born old, because we one day must be old.

If there's delight in love, 'Tis when I see that heart, which others bleed for, bleed for me.

Thus in this sad, but oh, too pleasing state! my soul can fix upon nothing but thee; thee it contemplates, admires, adores, nay depends on, trusts on you alone.

Delay not till tomorrow to be wise; tomorrow's sun to thee may neve rise.

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

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

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

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

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

A little scorn is alluring.

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

Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.N.B.: This quote is commonly misquoted as savage beast.

I came up stairs into the world, for I was born in a cellar.

Grief walks upon the heels of pleasure; married in haste, we repent at leisure.

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

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

Mr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant: "Only with those in verse.... I never pin up my hair with prose."

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

Marriage indeed may qualify the fury of his passion, but it very rarely mends a man's manners.

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

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

There are times when sense may be unseasonable, as well as truth.

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

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

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

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

Defer not till to-morrow to be wise, To-morrow's Sun to thee may never rise; Or should to-morrow chance to cheer thy sight With her enlivening and unlook'd for light, How grateful will appear her dawning rays! As favours unexpected doubly please.

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

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

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

Marriage is honourable, as you say; and if so, wherefore should Cuckoldom be a Discredit, being deriv'd from so honourable a Root?

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

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

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

Invention flags, his brain goes muddy, and black despair succeeds brown study.