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Quotes by Gay
93 quotations from The Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1896), with the subject each one is filed under.
Old Age. Remote from cities liv'd a Swain, Unvex'd with all the cares of gain; His head was silver'd o'er with age, And long experience made him sage.— filed under Affliction
Reproachful speech from either side The want of argument supplied; They rail, reviled; as often ends The contests of disputing friends.— filed under Argument
In beauty, faults conspicuous grow; The smallest speck is seen on snow.— filed under Beauty
Bat. The sun was set; the night came on apace, And falling dews bewet around the place; The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And the hoarse owl his woeful dirges sings.— filed under Birds-Blackbird
To frame the little animal, provide All the gay hues that wait on female pride: Let Nature guide thee; sometimes golden wire The shining bellies of the fly require; The peacock's plumes thy tackle must not fail, Nor the dear purchase of the sable's tail.— filed under Birds-Pelican
That Raven on yon left-hand oak (Curse on his ill-betiding croak) Bodes me no good. S.— filed under Birds-Raven
The rising blushes, which her cheek o'erspread, Are opening roses in the lily's bed.— filed under Blushes
Brave Americans (who fell at Eutaw Springs). The brave Love mercy, and delight to save.— filed under Bravery
Will Go. Soon as Aurora drives away the night, And edges eastern clouds with rosy light, The healthy huntsman, with the cheerful horn, Summons the dogs, and greets the dappled morn.— filed under Chastity
How bless'd, how envied, were our life, Could we but scape the poulterer's knife! But man, curs'd man, on Turkeys preys, And Christmas shortens all our days: Sometimes with oysters we combine, Sometimes assist the savory chine; From the low peasant to the lord, The Turkey smokes on every board.— filed under Christmas
Give me, kind Heaven, a private station, A mind serene for contemplation: Title and profit I resign; The post of honour shall be mine.— filed under Content
the Sparrow and other Birds. What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She gratefully receives what Heav'n has sent, And, rich in poverty, enjoys content.— filed under Content
I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. * * * * * * My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much must talk in vain.— filed under Conversation
With thee conversing I forget the way.— filed under Conversation
How happy could I be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away! But while ye thus tease me together, To neither a word will I say.— filed under Coquetry
When rogues like these (a sparrow cries) To honours and employments rise, I court no favor, ask no place, For such preferment is disgrace.— filed under Corruption
Cowards are cruel, but the brave Love mercy, and delight to save.— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
The prince who kept the world in awe, The judge whose dictate fix'd the law; The rich, the poor, the great, the small, Are levell'd; death confounds 'em all.— filed under Death
Where the brass knocker, wrapt in flannel band, Forbids the thunder of the footman's hand, Th' upholder, rueful harbinger of death, Waits with impatience for the dying breath.— filed under Death
Subjects. Education. By outward show let's not be cheated; An ass should like an ass be treated.— filed under Demosthenes
Impartially their talents scan, Just education forms the man.— filed under Education
Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother.— filed under Envy
Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.— filed under Envy
Life is a jest, and all things show it, I thought so once, but now I know it.— filed under And Cared Not How It Blew
Brother, brother; we are both in the wrong.— filed under Error
Of Fame. From kings to cobblers 'tis the same; Bad servants wound their master's fame. C.— filed under Fame
"Adieu," she cries, and waved her lily hand.— filed under Farewell
One common fate we both must prove; You die with envy, I with love.— filed under Fate
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.— filed under Fish
Forest. Why does the rose her grateful fragrance yield, And yellow cowslips paint the smiling field?— filed under Flirting
Child. Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.— filed under Flowers-Kingcup
Fair is the marigold, for pottage meet.— filed under Flowers-Lotus
By outward show let's not be cheated; An ass should like an ass be treated.— filed under Folly
I marched the lobby, twirled my stick, * * * * * * The girls all cried, "He's quite the kick." GEO. COLMAN (The Younger)-Broad Grins. Song. St. 1. Of all the fools that pride can boast, A Coxcomb claims distinction most.— filed under Foppery
'Tis thus that on the choice of friends Our good or evil name depends.— filed under Friends
Friendship, like love, is but a name, Unless to one you stint the flame.— filed under Friendship
To friendship every burden's light.— filed under Friendship
Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judg'd a partner in the trade.— filed under Friendship
Look round, the wrecks of play behold; Estates dismember'd, mortgag'd, sold! Their owners now to jails confin'd, Show equal poverty of mind.— filed under Garden
Nor love, nor honour, wealth nor pow'r, Can give the heart a cheerful hour When health is lost. Be timely wise; With health all taste of pleasure flies.— filed under Health
Title and profit I resign; The post of honour shall be mine.— filed under Honor
While there is life there's hope, (he cried,) Then why such haste?-so groan'd and died.— filed under Hope
An open foe may prove a curse, But a pretended friend is worse.— filed under Hypocrisy
The careful insect 'midst his works I view, Now from the flowers exhaust the fragrant dew, With golden treasures load his little thighs, And steer his distant journey through the skies.— filed under Insects-Bee
Flea. "I cannot raise my worth too high; Of what vast consequence am I!" "Not of the importance you suppose," Replies a Flea upon his nose; "Be humble, learn thyself to scan; Know, pride was never made for man."— filed under Insects-Flea
C. Experiment 100. The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.— filed under Insects-Flea
In other men we faults can spy, And blame the mote that dims their eye; Each little speck and blemish find, To our own stronger errors blind.— filed under Judgment
So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reck'ning, and men smile no more.— filed under Judgment
There is no other Royal path which leads to geometry. EUCLID TO PTOLEMY I. See Proclus' Commentaries on Euclid's Elements. Bk. II. Ch. IV. Learning by study must be won; 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.— filed under Learning
Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consum'd the midnight oil?— filed under Learning
Subjects. Lucian. How short is life! how frail is human trust!— filed under Life
Lash'd into Latin by the tingling rod.— filed under Linguists
Love, then, hath every bliss in store; 'Tis friendship, and 'tis something more. Each other every wish they give; Not to know love is not to live.— filed under Love
What will not luxury taste? Earth, sea, and air, Are daily ransack'd for the bill of fare. Blood stuffed in skins is British Christians' food, And France robs marshes of the croaking brood.— filed under Luxury
The husband's sullen, dogged, shy, The wife grows flippant in reply; He loves command and due restriction, And she as well likes contradiction. She never slavishly submits; She'll have her way, or have her fits. He his way tugs, she t'other draws; The man grows jealous and with cause.— filed under Matrimony
Over the hills and far away.— filed under Nature
Creation. Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother; Wits are gamecocks to one another.— filed under Occupations-Alchemy
My new straw hat that's trimly lin'd with green, Let Peggy wear.— filed under Occupations-Hatters
Subjects. Calvinism. A justice with grave justices shall sit; He praise their wisdom, they admire his wit.— filed under Occupations-Law
See one physician, like a sculler plies, The patient lingers, and by inches dies; But two physicians, like a pair of oars, Waft him more swiftly to the Stygian shores. "D." (Probably JOHN DUNSCOMBE) - A Note in Nichols' Select Collection of Poems. "Is there no hope?" the sick man said, The silent doctor shook his head, And took his leave with signs of sorrow, Despairing of his fee to-morrow.— filed under Occupations-Law
In every age and clime we see, Two of a trade can ne'er agree.— filed under Occupations-Mercantile
All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd.— filed under Occupations-Navigation
Greatness. Let firm, well hammer'd soles protect thy feet Through freezing snows, and rains, and soaking sleet; Should the big last extend the shoe too wide, Each stone will wrench the unwary step aside; The sudden turn may stretch the swelling vein, The cracking joint unhinge, or ankle sprain; And when too short the modish shoes are worn, You'll judge the seasons by your shooting corn.— filed under Occupations-Shoemaking
Good housewives all the winter's rage despise, Defended by the riding-hood's disguise; Or, underneath the umbrella's oily shade, Safe through the wet on clinking pattens tread, Let Persian dames the umbrella's ribs display, To guard their beauties from the sunny ray; Or sweating slaves support the shady load, When eastern monarchs show their state abroad; Britain in winter only knows its aid, To guard from chilling showers the walking maid.— filed under Occupations-Tonsorial
Death of Mr. Thomas Lancashire, Comedian. Why is the hearse with scutcheons blazon'd round, And with the nodding plume of ostrich crown'd? No; the dead know it not, nor profit gain; It only serves to prove the living vain.— filed under Occupations-Undertakers
Excuse me, then! you know my heart; But dearest friends, alas! must part.— filed under Parting
We only part to meet again.— filed under Parting
Breathe soft, ye winds! ye waves, in silence sleep!— filed under Peace
Long open panegyric drags at best, And praise is only praise when well address'd.— filed under Praise
Two of a trade can ne'er agree.— filed under Proverbs
Virtue is its own reward.— filed under Proverbs
Those who in quarrels interpose, Must often wipe a bloody nose.— filed under Quarreling
A lost good name is ne'er retriev'd.— filed under Reputation
So comes a reckoning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckoning, and men smile no more.— filed under Results
And though you duck them ne'er so long, Not one salt drop e'er wets their tongue; "Tis hence they scandal have at will, And that this member ne'er lies still.— filed under Scandal
the Poll. Thus shadow owes its birth to light.— filed under Shadows
Introduction. I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame.— filed under Slander
Whence is thy learning? hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?— filed under Stupidity
Alas! you know the cause too well; The salt is spilt, to me it fell. Then to contribute to my loss, My knife and fork were laid across; On Friday, too! the day I dread; Would I were safe at home, in bed! Last night (I vow to Heaven 'tis true) Bounce from the fire a coffin flew. Next post some fatal news shall tell: God send my Cornish friends be well!— filed under Superstition
My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much must talk in vain.— filed under Talk
Subjects. Calvinsim. Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view.— filed under Truth
Second Series. The Pains of Pleasing. Ch. III. How many saucy airs we meet, From Temple Bar to Aldgate street!— filed under Vanity
Variety's the source of joy below, From whence still fresh-revolving pleasures flow, In books and love the mind one end pursues, And only change the expiring flame renews.— filed under Variety
Self-Reliance. Shall ignorance of good and ill Dare to direct the eternal will? Seek virtue, and, of that possest, To Providence resign the rest.— filed under Virtue
Yet why should learning hope success at court? Why should our patriots' virtues cause support? Why to true merit should they have regard? They know that virtue is its own reward.— filed under Virtue
Who hath not heard the rich complain Of surfeits, and corporeal pain? He barr'd from every use of wealth, Envies the ploughman's strength and health.— filed under Wealth
From wine what sudden friendship springs?— filed under Wine And Spirits
And when a lady's in the case, You know all other things give place.— filed under Woman
How happy could I be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away! But, while ye thus tease me together, To neither a word will I say.— filed under Woman
If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispell'd when a woman appears.— filed under Woman
'Tis a woman that seduces all mankind; By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.— filed under Woman
Preface to 1758. In every rank, or great or small, 'Tis industry supports us all.— filed under Work
Introduction. Youth holds no society with grief. EURIPIDES. L. 73. O happy unown'd youths! your limbs can bear The scorching dog-star and the winter's air, While the rich infant, nurs'd with care and pain, Thirsts with each heat and coughs with every rain!— filed under Wrongs