William Congreve
William Congreve
William Congrevewas an English playwright and poet...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth24 January 1670
secret knows
I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.
love madness ifs
If this be not love, it is madness, and then it is pardonable.
funny men play
Every man plays the fool once in his live, but to marry is playing the fool all one's life long.
experience leisure haste
Some by experience find those words mis-placed: At leisure married, they repent in haste.
lying deceit naked
No mask like open truth to cover lies, As to go naked is the best disguise.
kissing missing
O fie, miss, you must not kiss and tell.
giving age invention
One minute gives invention to destroy; What to rebuild, will a whole age employ.
guilt breeding blushing
I always take blushing either for a sign of guilt, or of ill breeding.
music rocks numbers
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.
mind calm wands
Music alone with sudden charms can bind The wand'ring sense, and calm the troubled mind.
country kings father
Whoever is king, is also the father of his country.
thinking
I hope you do not think me prone to any iteration of nuptials.
heaven fool helping
I am a fool, I know it; and yet, Heaven help me, I'm poor enough to be a wit.
wise cheer grateful
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.