John Gay

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

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

The brave love mercy, and delight to save.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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?

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

We only part to meet again.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

Shadow owes its birth to light.

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

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.

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

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

— John Gay

When through the Town, with slow and solemn Air, Led by the Nostril, walks the muzled Bear; Behind him moves majestically dull, The Pride of Hockley-hole, the surly Bull; Learn hence the Periods of the Week to name, Mondays and Thursdays are the Days of Game.

— John Gay

When fishy Stalls with double Store are laid; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesdays and Fridays you'll observe from hence, Days, when our Sires were doom'd to Abstinence.

— John Gay

When dirty Waters from Balconies drop, And dextrous Damsels twirle the sprinkling Mop, And cleanse the spatter'd Sash, and scrub the Stairs; Know Saturday's conclusive Morn appears.

— John Gay