WILLIAM CONGREVE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beauty is the lover's gift.

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

Never go to bed angry, stay up and fight.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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