222 Quotes by John Gay

When if or chance or hunger’s powerful sway Directs the roving trout this fatal way, He greedily sucks in the twining bait, And tugs and nibbles the fallacious meat. Now, happy fisherman; now twitch the line! How thy rod bends! behold, the prize is thine!

Envy’s a sharper spur than pay.

Look round, the wrecks of play behold; Estates dismember’d, mortgaged, sold! Their owners now to jails confin’d, Show equal poverty of mind.

Gulliver was soon being read “from the cabinet council to the nursery”.

I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another’s fame. Thus prudes, by characters o’erthrown, Imagine that they raise their own. Thus Scribblers, covetous of praise, Think slander can transplant the bays.

Music might tame and civilize wild beasts, but ’tis evident it never yet could tame and civilize musicians.

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

I know you lawyers can with ease, Twist words and meanings as you please; That language, by your skill made pliant, Will bend to favour every client; That ’tis the fee directs the sense, To make out either side’s pretense.

Were I laid on Greenland’s Coast, And in my Arms embrac’d my Lass; Warm amidst eternal Frost, Too soon the Half Year’s Night would pass.