Nor love, not honour, wealth nor pow'r, Can give the heart a cheerful hour When health is lost...
JOHN GAY But money, wife, is the true Fuller's Earth for reputations, there is not a spot or a stain but what...
JOHN GAY Can you support the expense of a husband, hussy, in gaming, drinking and whoring? Have you money eno...
JOHN GAY Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been m...
JOHN GAY How many saucy airs we meet, From Temple Bar to Aldgate street!
JOHN GAY Who hath not heard the rich complain Of surfeits, and corporeal pain? He barr'd from every use...
JOHN GAY What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And when we fly them, they pursue: But...
JOHN GAY Learning by study must be won; 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.
JOHN GAY A man should be religious, not superstitious.
JOHN GAY Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judg'd a partner in the trade.
JOHN GAY In every age and clime we see, Two of a trade can ne'er agree.
JOHN GAY O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.
JOHN GAY Sure men were born to lie, and women to believe them!
JOHN GAY I must have women -- there is nothing unbends the mind like them.
JOHN GAY A fox may steal your hens, Sir, a whore your health and pence, Sir, your daughter rob your chest, Si...
JOHN GAY Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either.
JOHN GAY Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of prey, ...
JOHN GAY Gamesters and highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their ...
JOHN GAY Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.
JOHN GAY How the mother is to be pitied who hath handsome daughters! Locks, bolts, bars, and lectures of mora...
JOHN GAY Through all the employments of life each neighbor abuses his brother; whore and rogue they call husb...
JOHN GAY The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife's spirits.
JOHN GAY There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self.
JOHN GAY Shadow owes its birth to light.
JOHN GAY Of all mechanics, of all servile handycrafts-men, a gamester is the vilest. But yet, as many of the ...
JOHN GAY We only part to meet again.
JOHN GAY Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.
JOHN GAY But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the...
JOHN GAY Cowards are cruel, but the brave Love mercy, and delight to save.
JOHN GAY A rich rogue nowadays is fit company for any gentleman; and the world, my dear, hath not such a cont...
JOHN GAY Cowards are cruel, but the brave Love mercy, and delight to save.
JOHN GAY With thee conversing I forget the way.
JOHN GAY I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. . . . . My tongue within my lips ...
JOHN GAY What happiness the rural maid attends, In cheerful labour while each day she spends! She grate...
JOHN GAY How bless'd, how envied, were our life, Could we but scape the poulterer's knife! But man, cur...
JOHN GAY There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one's self
JOHN GAY Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows.
JOHN GAY The brave Love mercy, and delight to save.
JOHN GAY The rising blushes, which her cheek o'er-spread, Are opening roses in the lily's bed.
JOHN GAY The careful insect 'midst his works I view, Now from the flowers exhaust the fragrant dew, Wit...
JOHN GAY Reproachful speech from either side The want of argument supplied; They rail, reviled; as ofte...
JOHN GAY Excuse me, then! you know my heart; But dearest friends, alas! must part.
JOHN GAY A justice with grave justices shall sit; He praise their wisdom, they admire his wit.
JOHN GAY A lost good name is ne'er retriev'd.
JOHN GAY What boots it on the lineal tree to trace Through many a branch the founders of our race.
JOHN GAY If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the tree...
JOHN GAY So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.
JOHN GAY For he as studious--of his ease.
JOHN GAY Studious of elegance and ease.
JOHN GAY Brother, brother; we are both in the wrong.
JOHN GAY When rogues like these (a sparrow cries) To honours and employments rise, I court no favor, as...
JOHN GAY In other men we faults may spy, And blame the mote that dims their eye; Each little speck and ...
JOHN GAY Life is a jest; and all things show it. I thought so once; but now I know it.
JOHN GAY Impartially their talents scan, Just education forms the man. - John Gay,
JOHN GAY Cowards are cruel, but the brave
Love mercy, and delight to save.
JOHN GAY Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.
JOHN GAY Envy's a sharper spur than pay: No author ever spar'd a brother; Wits are gamecocks to one ano...
JOHN GAY The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife's spirits.
JOHN GAY Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee.
JOHN GAY I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame.
JOHN GAY That Raven on yon left-hand oak (Curse on his ill-betiding croak) Bodes me no good.
JOHN GAY Now Cynthia, named fair regent of the night.
JOHN GAY All in the Downs are fleet was moor'd.
JOHN GAY Lash'd into Latin by the tingling rod.
JOHN GAY My new straw hat that's trimly lin'd with green, Let Peggy wear.
JOHN GAY Over the hills and far away.
JOHN GAY To frame the little animal, provide All the gay hues that wait on female pride: Let Nature gui...
JOHN GAY The coquets of both sexes are self-lovers, and that is a love no other whatever can dispossess.
JOHN GAY The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.
JOHN GAY "I cannot raise my worth too high; Of what vast consequence am I!" "Not of the importance you ...
JOHN GAY Of all the fools that pride can boast, A Coxcomb claims distinction most.
JOHN GAY No retreat. No retreat. They must conquer or die who've no retreat.
JOHN GAY An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse.
JOHN GAY Let firm, well hammer'd soles protect thy feet Through freezing snows, and rains, and soaking slee...
JOHN GAY Thus shadow owes its birth to light.
JOHN GAY My tongue within my lips I rein: For who talks much must talk in vain.
JOHN GAY Variety's the source of joy below, From whence still fresh-revolving pleasures flow, In books ...
JOHN GAY From wine what sudden friendship springs?
JOHN GAY Why is the hearse with scutcheons blazon'd round, And with the nodding plume of ostrich crown'd? ...
JOHN GAY Good housewives all the winter's rage despise, Defended by the riding-hood's disguise; Or, und...
JOHN GAY Adieu! she cries; and waved her lily hand.
JOHN GAY Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of pr...
JOHN GAY Give me, kind Heaven, a private station, A mind serene for contemplation: Title and profit I r...
JOHN GAY Basically, I no longer work for anything but the sensation I have while working.
JOHN GAY In every rank, or great or small, 'Tis industry supports us all.
JOHN GAY Life is a jest; and all things show it. I thought so once; but now I know it.
JOHN GAY "Is there no hope?" the sick man said, The silent doctor shook his head, And took his leave wi...
JOHN GAY You'd have an instant decade-long waiting line.
JOHN GAY Do like other widows - buy yourself weeds, and be cheerful.
JOHN GAY Fools may our scorn, not envy raise, for envy is a kind of praise
JOHN GAY The charge is prepared; the lawyers are met, / The judges all ranged (a terrible show!).
JOHN GAY By ignorance is pride increased; Those most assume who know the least
JOHN GAY (The bill) doesn't fix the system, it just focuses on enforcement.
JOHN GAY Praising all alike, is praising none
JOHN GAY I felt good if they ran the 1-3-1 against the offense we're using. Then we went out there and didn't...
JOHN GAY No one likes employer sanctions,
JOHN GAY What will not luxury taste? Earth, sea, and air, Are daily ransack'd for the bill of fare. Bl...
JOHN GAY When if or chance or hunger's powerful sway Directs the roving trout this fatal way, He greedi...
JOHN GAY By outward show let's not be cheated; An ass should like an ass be treated.
JOHN GAY Originality provokes originality.
JOHN GAY A woman scorn'd is pitiless as fate, For then the dread of shame adds stings to hate.
JOHN GAY 'While there is life, there's hope,' he cried; 'Then why such haste?' so groaned and died
JOHN GAY To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who cheats a woman
JOHN GAY 'Tis woman that seduces all mankind, / By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.
JOHN GAY When we risk no contradiction, it prompts the tongue to deal in fiction
JOHN GAY We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect...
JOHN GAY We only part to meet again. / Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be / The faithful compass...
JOHN GAY We are frustrated with the broken immigration system. It doesn't match the economic reality.
JOHN GAY A fox may steal your hens, Sir, a whore your health and pence, Sir, your daughter rob your chest, Si...
JOHN GAY Employers are frustrated because there is so much paperwork and oftentimes you don't know if things ...
JOHN GAY I sipped each flower, / I changed ev'ry hour, / But here ev'ry flower is united.
JOHN GAY Bring me a hundred reeds of decent growth,/ To make a pipe for my capacious mouth.
JOHN GAY Can Love be controlled by advice?
JOHN GAY All in the Downs the fleet was moored, / The streamers waving in the wind, / When black-eyed Susan c...
JOHN GAY One wife is too much for most husbands to hear, / But two at a time there's no mortal can bear.
JOHN GAY If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, the mist is dispelled when a woman appears
JOHN GAY Corruption's not for modern date; It hath been tried in ev'ry state
JOHN GAY Envy's a sharper spur than pay
JOHN GAY What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes
JOHN GAY In beauty, faults conspicuous grow; the smallest speck is seen on snow
JOHN GAY She who has never loved has never lived.
JOHN GAY The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.
JOHN GAY In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.
JOHN GAY How, like a moth, the simple maid / Still plays about the flame!
JOHN GAY Those who in quarrels interpose - Must often wipe a bloody nose
JOHN GAY I hate the man who builds his name on the ruins of another's fame
JOHN GAY How happy could I be with either, / Were t'other dear charmer away! / But while ye thus tease me tog...
JOHN GAY If with me you'll fondly stray, / Over the hills and far away.
JOHN GAY It would impose fines of up to $25,000 for paperwork violations. How many businesses could withstand...
JOHN GAY I'll study the tape and see. It's the things we've worked on the last two weeks. We've had enough pr...
JOHN GAY We missed some shots during critical times of the game, and we also made some turnovers at crucial t...
JOHN GAY The girls knew exactly what was at stake. I don't know if the pressure of that got to 'em. I think t...
JOHN GAY I felt like we played a good game for the most part. But near the end, we played not to lose, instea...
JOHN GAY The people who own the country ought to govern it
JOHN GAY The jury has a right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy
JOHN GAY We were able to settle down when we needed to.
JOHN GAY There is a loud group of anti-immigration folks out there for whom this is the main issue they care ...
JOHN GAY What he was doing is unrecognizable compared to what I do on a day-to-day basis.
JOHN GAY The caps on green cards are a critically important issue both in dealing with the undocumented that ...
JOHN GAY The word would quickly spread in Mexico and other countries that you don't need to risk your life in...
JOHN GAY We both want the bill for different reasons. Immigrant advocates want a way for their people to get ...
JOHN GAY Our defense is key to us right now. We've got to play good defense. That's our driving force.
JOHN GAY Our Polly is a sad slut! nor heeds what we have taught her. / I wonder any man alive will ever rear ...
JOHN GAY On the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.
JOHN GAY In every age and clime we see, / Two of a trade can ne'er agree.
JOHN GAY Youth's the season made for joys, Love is then our duty
JOHN GAY The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets, So he that tastes woman, woman, woman; He that tast...
JOHN GAY Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil/ O'er books consumed the midnight oil?
JOHN GAY I rage, I melt, I burn, / The feeble God has stabbed me to the heart.
JOHN GAY Man may escape from rope and gun; Nay, some have outliv'd the doctor's pill: Who takes a woman must ...
JOHN GAY I must have women / there is nothing unbends the mind like them.
JOHN GAY A fox may steal your hens, sir, / . . . If lawyer's hand is fee'd sir, / He steals your whole estate...
JOHN GAY Where yet was ever found a mother, / Who'd give her booby for another?
JOHN GAY Fill ev'ry glass, for wine inspires us, / And fires us / With courage, love and joy. / Women and win...
JOHN GAY I know you lawyers can, with ease, twist words and meanings as you please
JOHN GAY O ruddier than the cherry, / O sweeter than the berry, / O nymph more bright / Than moonshine night,...
JOHN GAY Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.
JOHN GAY What then in love can woman do? If we grow fond they shun us. And when we fly them, they pursue: But...
JOHN GAY Margaret Sanger didn't just introduce the idea of birth control into our culture at large, she f...
ROXANE GAY We were the only black family in my neighborhood for many years. Wherever we lived, we were often th...
ROXANE GAY The madness of spring is so enticing. I love it when things are opening up and emerging from the gro...
ROSS GAY Thirteen years I took on this last book.
GAY TALESE Yes there is a little group of soccer aficionados, but I am not one of them.
GAY TALESE Restaurants are a wonderful escape for me. And are for a lot of people.
GAY TALESE I could come up with 50 stories that I am thinking about.
GAY TALESE The reporter wrote with the hope that he would get a by-line in the Times, a testimony to his being ...
GAY TALESE For example, many colleges in their writing programs teach some of my work.
GAY TALESE Even after they had stopped modeling for Playboy and had settled down with other men to raise famili...
GAY TALESE News, if unreported, has no impact. It might as well have not happened at all.
GAY TALESE I write and rewrite and rewrite and write and like to turn in what I think is finished work.
GAY TALESE Better that you should take the chance of trying something that is close to your heart, you think is...
GAY TALESE To have a liberal temperament is a kind of psychological boon, To be able to understand that someone...
PETER GAY The real problem is what to do with the problem-solvers after the problems are solved.
GAY TALESE The beauty of the human mind is that any decision that is made can be unmade.
GAY HENDRICKS As we free our breath (through diaphragmatic breathing) we relax our emotions and let go our body te...
GAY HENDRICKS I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.
ROXANE GAY One of the many things I have always loved about writing, not to be confused with publishing, is tha...
ROXANE GAY People go to restaurants for so many different reasons. To court a girl, to make some deal. Maybe to...
GAY TALESE Most open letters undoubtedly come from a good place, rising out of genuine outrage or concern or ca...
ROXANE GAY What worries me is that 'post-racial' America is not that different from the Americas that h...
ROXANE GAY I'm sick of hearing, thinking and talking about Woody Allen. Nonetheless, the allegations agains...
ROXANE GAY I think the world is ambivalent about feminism. So I can't blame college students. I think they&...
ROXANE GAY I love, but I am not entirely sure how to be loved: how to be seen and known for the utterly flawed ...
ROXANE GAY Pink is my favourite colour. I used to say my favourite colour was black to be cool, but it is pink ...
ROXANE GAY Social media is something of a double-edged sword. At its best, social media offers unprecedented op...
ROXANE GAY Long walks on the beach are the supposed holy grail of a romantic evening. The beach becomes a kind ...
ROXANE GAY I have never dreamed of being a princess. I have not longed for Prince Charming. I have and do long ...
ROXANE GAY There's something about beautiful moments in sports that alters our experience of time. And I...
ROSS GAY I eat 230 grams of protein daily, 308 grams of carbohydrates, maybe 70 grams of fat. I can have one ...
TYSON GAY It's an amusing idea to some, this feminism thing - this audacious notion that women should be a...
ROXANE GAY We bear witness to the worst of human brutality, retweet what we have witnessed, and then we move on...
ROXANE GAY I am failing as a woman. I am failing as a feminist. To freely accept the feminist label would not b...
ROXANE GAY It would be easy to assume that the open letter is a symptom of the Internet age. Such is not the ca...
ROXANE GAY All too often, when we see injustices, both great and small, we think, That's terrible, but we do no...
ROXANE GAY I want to find that defining moment that you're satisfied and you've done what you want to d...
TYSON GAY The Park Avenue of poodles and polished brass; it is cab country, tip-town, glassville, a window-wa...
GAY TALESE A little girl and her father were walking along in the evening. She was fascinated by the stars, and...
FRANCIS GAY I cut an imposing figure. I am large, and I'm tall, and I have tattoos. I am actually really qui...
ROXANE GAY I am totally down with disagreement. I don't like Haterade, but disagreement is wonderful. When ...
ROXANE GAY It's disheartening that people think that Donald Sterling is the outlier and that he's the e...
ROXANE GAY