[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f_6VSudGZBwhuSWtjJ5KkN-GKiU1X4YsgkQHwdqtZvls":3,"$f7KGbrHSLe0BqMG-wU67DWbQ0cts3NZs-Pj7eDYwCYTM":27},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},45326,"John Gay","J",222,null,"john-gay",[12,16,20,24],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},326,"men",11,{"tag_id":17,"tag_name":18,"tag_count":19},93757,"english-poet",6,{"tag_id":21,"tag_name":22,"tag_count":23},25,"love",5,{"tag_id":25,"tag_name":26,"tag_count":23},115,"women",{"quotes":28,"pagination":94},[29,38,45,51,57,63,69,75,81,88],{"id":30,"quote_text":31,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":34,"source":35,"quote_tag":36,"commentary":37},4021483,"An open foe may prove a curse, / But a pretended friend is worse.",8,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is attributed to John Gay, an 18th-century English poet and playwright. Written during a time when social hierarchies were strict and appearances mattered greatly, the sentiment likely reflects Gay's observations about the dangers of superficial relationships in high society. The era was marked by a strong emphasis on etiquette and propriety, which could lead individuals to hide their true intentions behind masks of friendship.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nAt first glance, this quote seems to caution against deception or fake friendships. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a more profound concern: the tendency to prioritize appearances over authenticity. The phrase \"pretended friend\" suggests that what's even more insidious than an open enemy is someone who feigns loyalty and affection while secretly manipulating you for their own gain.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn modern professional or creative contexts, this insight can be applied by being vigilant about the relationships in your life. Prioritize authenticity over networking; be wary of those who only offer support when it's convenient or beneficial for them, rather than genuinely investing in your success or well-being.",{"id":39,"quote_text":40,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":41,"source":42,"quote_tag":43,"commentary":44},4021482,"An open curse may prove a curse, / But a pretended friend is worse.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nJohn Gay, an 18th-century English poet and playwright, likely penned these lines in his satirical play \"The Beggar's Opera\" (1728), a scathing critique of the societal corruption of his time. During this era, social hierarchy was rigid, and individuals often pretended to be friends or benefactors while secretly manipulating others for personal gain. Gay's work exposed the hypocrisy of such relationships.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a profound paradox: genuine friendship can be elusive due to human nature's tendency towards self-interest, but pretending to be a friend is worse because it exploits trust and destroys social bonds. By acknowledging this tension, we recognize that true connections require effort, vulnerability, and authenticity.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen navigating professional or personal relationships, remember that fake friendships can be more damaging than genuine connections that don't materialize. Prioritize authenticity and directness in your interactions; it may lead to fewer \"friends,\" but those you do form will be built on mutual trust and respect.",{"id":46,"quote_text":47,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":48,"source":49,"quote_tag":50,"commentary":9},4021477,"Tis not that rural sports alone invite, but all the grateful country breathes delight.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":52,"quote_text":53,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":54,"source":55,"quote_tag":56,"commentary":9},4021469,"His head was silver'd o'er with age, / And long experience / made him sage.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":58,"quote_text":59,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":60,"source":61,"quote_tag":62,"commentary":9},4021456,"In one respect indeed, our employment may be reckoned dishonest, because, like great Statesmen, we encourage those who betray their friends.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":64,"quote_text":65,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":66,"source":67,"quote_tag":68,"commentary":9},4021414,"We only part to meet again. Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be. The faithful compass that still points to thee.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":70,"quote_text":71,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":72,"source":73,"quote_tag":74,"commentary":9},4021400,"We only part to meet again. Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be the faithful compass that still points to thee.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":76,"quote_text":77,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":78,"source":79,"quote_tag":80,"commentary":9},4021385,"Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":82,"quote_text":83,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":84,"source":85,"quote_tag":86,"commentary":87},4021365,"Excuse me, then! you know my heart;But dearest friends, alas! must part.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nThis poignant quote is from John Gay's poem \"Epistle to a Friend,\" written around 1727 during his time in Exeter, England. Gay was a poet and dramatist who was part of the Whig literary circle, known for their witty satire and social commentary. As he navigated the complexities of life as an artist and intellectual, he often expressed themes of friendship, love, and the inevitability of separation.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nOn the surface, this quote appears to be a sentimental farewell from one friend to another. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a deeper paradox: Gay is acknowledging that his true self is known by those closest to him, but he must still bid them adieu due to the constraints of reality. This tension highlights the inherent contradiction between our desire for genuine human connection and the social obligations that inevitably lead us apart.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset in a modern context, consider the value of cultivating authentic relationships while also acknowledging the impermanence of connections in today's fast-paced world. When facing departures or difficult goodbyes, recognize that your true self is reflected in the eyes of those who truly understand you, and cherish these moments of vulnerability as a reminder of the importance of human connection.",{"id":89,"quote_text":90,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":91,"source":92,"quote_tag":93,"commentary":9},4021343,"Excuse me, then! you know my heart; But dearest friends, alas! must part",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"currentPage":95,"totalPages":96,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":97},1,23,10]