Quotes from William Congreve

True, 'tis an unhappy circumstance of life that love should ever die before us, and that the man so often should outlive the lover. 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. For my part, my youth may wear and waste, but it shall never rust in my possession.

Courtship is to marriage, as a very witty prologue to a very dull play. (quoted in Life After Life)

In hours of bliss we oft have met: They could not always last; And though the present I regret, I'm grateful for the past.

For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, And though late, a sure reward succeeds.

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

Music has charms to soothe the savage beast.

One minute gives invention to destroy, What, to rebuild, will a whole age employ.

Why will mankind be fools, and be deceived? And why are friends' and lovers' oaths believed; When each, who searches strictly his own mind, May so much fraud and power of baseness find?

No mask like open truth to cover lies, As to go naked is the best disguise.

Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast/To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak

O fie, miss, you must not kiss and tell.

Well, I shall understand your lingo one of these days, cousin.

Heav'n has no rage like love to hatred turn'd Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorn'd.

A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.

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

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

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

O, she is the antidote to desire.

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

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

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 wit should be no more sincere than a woman constant.

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

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