Quotes by William Congreve

Grief walks upon the heels of pleasure; married in haste, we repent at leisure.
– William Congreve
Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.
– William Congreve
I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
– William Congreve
I know that's a secret, for it's whispered every where.
– William Congreve
If there's delight in love, 'Tis when I see that heart, which others bleed for, bleed for me.
– William Congreve
If this be not love, it is madness, and then it is pardonable.
– William Congreve
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
Invention flags, his brain goes muddy, and black despair succeeds brown study.
– William Congreve
Men are apt to offend ('tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.
– William Congreve
Never go to bed angry, stay up and fight.
– William Congreve
Say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved.
– William Congreve
They are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.
– William Congreve
They come together like the Coroner's Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.
– William Congreve
'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
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.
– William Congreve
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind.
– William Congreve
Defer not till tomorrow to be wise, tomorrow's sun to thee may never rise.
– William Congreve
He that first cries out stop thief, is often he that has stolen the treasure.
– William Congreve
I came upstairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar.
– William Congreve
There is in true beauty, as in courage, something which narrow souls cannot dare to admire.
– William Congreve
No, I'm no enemy to learning it hurts not me.
– William Congreve
Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.
– William Congreve
Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear.
– William Congreve
Courtship is to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.
– William Congreve
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
Beauty is the lover's gift.
– William Congreve