166 Quotes by William Congreve

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.

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

Hannibal was a very pretty fellow in those days.

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

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.

O ay, letters - I had letters - I am persecuted with letters - I hate letters - nobody knows how to write letters; and yet one has 'em, one does not know why - they serve one to pin up one's hair.

If happiness in self-content is placed, The wise are wretched, and fools only blessed.

How hard a thing 'twould be to please you all.