Quotes by Gay, John

"There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self."

Gay, John on dependence   

"Can you support the expense of a husband, hussy, in gaming, drinking and whoring? Have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man and wife about who shall squander most?"

Gay, John on engagement   

"Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise."

Gay, John on envy
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"We only part to meet again."

Gay, John on farewells
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"O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on."

Gay, John on flirting   

"An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse."

Gay, John on friends and friendship
3 fans of this quote   

"Of all mechanics, of all servile handycrafts-men, a gamester is the vilest. But yet, as many of the quality are of the profession, he is admitted amongst the politest company."

Gay, John on gambling   

"Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either."

Gay, John on alcohol and alcoholism   

"Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose."

Gay, John on intervention   

"But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the rest."

Gay, John on kisses and kissing   

"A fox may steal your hens, Sir, a whore your health and pence, Sir, your daughter rob your chest, Sir, your wife may steal your rest, Sir, a thief your goods and plate. But this is all but picking, with rest, pence, chest and chicken; it ever was decreed, Sir, if lawyer's hand is feed, Sir, he steals your whole estate."

Gay, John on law and lawyers   

"Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!"

Gay, John on living together   

"What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And when we fly them, they pursue: But leave us when they've won us."

Gay, John on love
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"Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!"

Gay, John on women
3 fans of this quote   

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"I must have women -- there is nothing unbends the mind like them."

Gay, John on women
3 fans of this quote   

"But money, wife, is the true Fuller's Earth for reputations, there is not a spot or a stain but what it can take out."

Gay, John on money   

"Shadow owes its birth to light."

Gay, John on night
3 fans of this quote   

This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

"Through all the employments of life each neighbor abuses his brother; whore and rogue they call husband and wife: All professions be-rogue one another."

Gay, John on professions and professionals   

"Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of prey, man is the only sociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbor, and yet we herd together."

Gay, John on socializing and socialism   

"No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat."

Gay, John on victory   

"Gamesters and highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives."

Gay, John on villains   

"The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife's spirits."

Gay, John on widowhood   

"A rich rogue nowadays is fit company for any gentleman; and the world, my dear, hath not such a contempt for roguery as you imagine."

Gay, John on company   

"The brave love mercy, and delight to save."

Gay, John on courage   

"Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save."

Gay, John on war   

"How the mother is to be pitied who hath handsome daughters! Locks, bolts, bars, and lectures of morality are nothing to them: they break through them all. They have as much pleasure in cheating a father and mother, as in cheating at cards."

Gay, John on daughters   

"No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die whove no retreat. "

Gay, John on uncategorised