William Congreve
She once used me with that insolence, that in revenge I took her to pieces; sifted her, and separated her failings; I studied 'em, and got 'em by rote. The catalogue was so large, that I was not without hopes, one day or other to hate her heartily.Collection: Revenge
All well bred persons lie - Besides, you are a woman; you must never speak what you think.Collection: Lying
O ay, letters - I had letters - I am persecuted with letters - I hate letters - nobody knows how to write letters; and yet one has 'em, one does not know why - they serve one to pin up one's hair.Collection: Hate
Some by experience find those words mis-placed: At leisure married, they repent in haste.Collection: Experience
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.Collection: Soul
Mr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant: "Only with those in verse.... I never pin up my hair with prose."Collection: Hair
I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.Collection: Secret
Let us be very strange and well-bred:Let us be as strange as if we had been married a great while;And as well-bred as if we were not married at all.Collection: Strange
Hannibal was a very pretty fellow in those days.Collection: Fellows
One minute gives invention to destroy; What to rebuild, will a whole age employ.Collection: Giving
A woman only obliges a man to secrecy, that she may have the pleasure of telling herself.Collection: Men
Honor is a public enemy, and conscience a domestic, and he that would secure his pleasure, must pay a tribute to one and go halves with t'other.Collection: Honor
Marriage is honourable, as you say; and if so, wherefore should Cuckoldom be a Discredit, being deriv'd from so honourable a Root?Collection: Roots
Blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, and though a late, a sure reward succeeds.Collection: Blessing
Marriage indeed may qualify the fury of his passion, but it very rarely mends a man's manners.Collection: Passion
Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast...Collection: Inspiration
Words are the weak support of cold indifference; love has no language to be heard.Collection: Support
O fie, miss, you must not kiss and tell.Collection: Kissing
A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.Collection: Beauty
There is in true Beauty, as in Courage, somewhat which narrow Souls cannot dare to admire.Collection: Inspirational
Whoever is king, is also the father of his country.Collection: Country
How hard a thing 'twould be to please you all.Collection: Theatre
Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak. I've read that things inanimate have moved, and, as with living souls, have been inform'd, by magic numbers and persuasive sound.Collection: Music
Music alone with sudden charms can bind The wand'ring sense, and calm the troubled mind.Collection: Mind
A little scorn is alluring.Collection: Littles
I always take blushing either for a sign of guilt, or of ill breeding.Collection: Guilt
I am always of the opinion with the learned, if they speak first.Collection: Knowledge
Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for a poet is worse, more servile, timorous and fawning than any I have named.Collection: Atheist
There is nothing more unbecoming a man of quality than to laugh ... 'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion!Collection: Laughter
I am a fool, I know it; and yet, Heaven help me, I'm poor enough to be a wit.Collection: Heaven
Love's but a frailty of the mind, When 'tis not with ambition joined.Collection: Love
Defer not till to-morrow to be wise, To-morrow's Sun to thee may never rise; Or should to-morrow chance to cheer thy sight With her enlivening and unlook'd for light, How grateful will appear her dawning rays! As favours unexpected doubly please.Collection: Wise
Though marriage makes man and wife one flesh, it leaves 'em still two fools.Collection: Marriage
O, nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion.Collection: Confusion
Men are apt to offend ('tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.Collection: Men
Would any thing but a madman complain of uncertainty? Uncertainty and expectation are joys of life; security is an insipid thing; and the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly of the chase.Collection: Expectations
There are come Critics so with Spleen diseased, They scarcely come inclining to be pleased: And sure he must have more than mortal Skill, Who please one against his Will.Collection: Skills
I nauseate walking; 'tis a country diversion, I loathe the country.Collection: Country
Guilt is ever at a loss, and confusion waits upon it; when innocence and bold truth are always ready for expression.Collection: Loss
To converse with Scandal is to play at Losing Loadum, you must lose a good name to him, before you can win it for yourself.Collection: Winning