William Congreve

A wit should be no more sincere than a woman constant.

Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.

Beauty is the lover's gift.

Guilt is ever at a loss and confusion waits upon it when innocence and bold truth are always ready for expression.

I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.

He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.

He that first cries out stop thief is often he that has stolen the treasure.

Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.

Invention flags, his brain goes muddy, and black despair succeeds brown study.

For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds And though a late a sure reward succeeds.

Never go to bed angry, stay up and fight.

A hungry wolf at all the herd will run In hopes through many to make sure of one.

To find a young fellow that is neither a wit in his own eye, nor a fool in the eye of the world, is a very hard task.

I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections.

Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing, though the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly of the chase.

Grief walks upon the heels of pleasure; married in haste, we repent at leisure.

Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.

Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear.

She likes herself, yet others hates, For that which in herself she prizes; And while she laughs at them, forgets She is the thing that she despises.

In my conscience I believe the baggage loves me, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else to rail at me.

No, I'm no enemy to learning; it hurts not me.

There is in true beauty, as in courage, something which narrow souls cannot dare to admire.

You are a woman: you must never speak what you think; your words must contradict your thoughts, but your actions may contradict your words.

A fellow who lives in a windmill has not a more whimsical dwelling than the heart of a man that is lodged in a woman.

Courtship is to marriage as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

I know that's a secret, for it's whispered everywhere.

A hungry wolf at all the herd will run, In hopes, through many, to make sure of one.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved.

If there's delight in love, 'Tis when I see that heart, which others bleed for, bleed for me.

A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.

If this be not love, it is madness, and then it is pardonable.

Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.

They are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.

Women are like tricks by sleight of hand which to admire we should not understand.

I know that's a secret, for it's whispered every where.

Wit must be foiled by wit: cut a diamond with a diamond.

They come together like the Coroner's Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.

Music has charms to soothe a savage beast.

'Tis well enough for a servant to be bred at an University. But the education is a little too pedantic for a gentleman.

A hungry wolf at all the herd will run, In hopes, through many, to make sure of one.

Come, come, leave business to idlers, and wisdom to fools: they have need of 'em: wit be my faculty, and pleasure my occupation, and let father Time shake his glass.

Courtship to marriage is as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.

Courtship is to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.