William Congreve famous quotes

Last updated: Sep 5, 2024

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

#Love #Life
He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.
-- William Congreve

#Confidence #Integrity #Views
Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear.
-- William Congreve

#Inspirational #Fear #War
Wit must be foiled by wit: cut a diamond with a diamond.
-- William Congreve

#Cutting #Jewelry #Wit
But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved. To pass our youth in dull indifference, to refuse the sweets of life because they once must leave us, is as preposterous as to wish to have been born old, because we one day must be old.
-- William Congreve

#Sweet #One Day #Wish
Women are like tricks by sleight of hand, Which, to admire, we should not understand
-- William Congreve

#Hands #Understanding #Admiration
Never go to bed angry, stay up and fight.
-- William Congreve

#Relationship #Stay Strong #Anger
Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.
-- William Congreve

#Inspirational #Music #Rocks
I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
-- William Congreve

#Stupid People #Stupidity #Dull
There is in true beauty, as in courage, something which narrow souls cannot dare to admire.
-- William Congreve

#Inspirational #Beauty #Courage
Nothing but you can lay hold of my mind, and that can lay hold of nothing but you.
-- William Congreve

#Mind #Of My Mind
Thus in this sad, but oh, too pleasing state! my soul can fix upon nothing but thee; thee it contemplates, admires, adores, nay depends on, trusts on you alone.
-- William Congreve

#Soul #Thee #States
Courtship is to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.
-- William Congreve

#Marriage #Witty #Play
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.
-- William Congreve

#Hate #Laughing #Likes
A little scorn is alluring.
-- William Congreve

#Littles #Scorn
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.
-- William Congreve

#Father #Glasses #Idlers
'Tis well enough for a servant to be bred at an University. But the education is a little too pedantic for a gentleman.
-- William Congreve

#College #Gentleman #Littles
No, I'm no enemy to learning; it hurts not me.
-- William Congreve

#Hurt #Enemy #It Hurts
Invention flags, his brain goes muddy, and black despair succeeds brown study.
-- William Congreve

#Brain #Black #Despair
I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections.
-- William Congreve

#Science #Reflection #Long
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.
-- William Congreve

#Expectations #Joy #Risk
They are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.
-- William Congreve

#Tea #Scandal #Ancient
A hungry wolf at all the herd will run, In hopes, through many, to make sure of one.
-- William Congreve

#Running #Hungry #Herds
If there's delight in love, 'Tis when I see that heart, which others bleed for, bleed for me.
-- William Congreve

#Love #Life #Heart
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.
-- William Congreve

#Believe #Suffering #Criticism
Grief walks upon the heels of pleasure; married in haste, we repent at leisure.
-- William Congreve

#Marriage #Grief #High Heels

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