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

Quote by John Gay

Topics: John Gay Quotes

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

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

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

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

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

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

What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes

What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes

Praising all alike, is praising none

Praising all alike, is praising none

You can only be called a hypocrite if you judge others first.

You can only be called a hypocrite if you judge others first.

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

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

Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.

Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.

What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And...

What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And...

When we risk no contradiction, it prompts the tongue to deal in fiction

When we risk no contradiction, it prompts the tongue to deal in fiction

'While there is life, there's hope,' he cried; 'Then why such haste?' so groaned and...

'While there is life, there's hope,' he cried; 'Then why such haste?' so groaned and...

But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and...

But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and...

To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who...

To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who...

In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.

In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.

Shadow owes its birth to light.

Shadow owes its birth to light.

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

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

In beauty, faults conspicuous grow; the smallest speck is seen on snow

In beauty, faults conspicuous grow; the smallest speck is seen on snow

Pride is the mask we make of our faults

Pride is the mask we make of our faults

To copy beauty forfeits all pretense to fame; to copy faults is want of sense

To copy beauty forfeits all pretense to fame; to copy faults is want of sense

Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults.

Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults.