John Gay

Who was John Gay?

John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera, a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peachum, became household names.

Famous Quotes:

• Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!
• A fox may steal your hens, Sir, a whore your health and pence, Sir, your daughter rob your chest, Sir, your wife may steal your rest, Sir, a thief your goods and plate. But this is all but picking, with rest, pence, chest and chicken; it ever was decreed, Sir, if lawyer's hand is feed, Sir, he steals your whole estate.
• But his kiss was so sweet, and so closely he pressed, that I languished and pined till I granted the rest.
• Through all the employments of life each neighbor abuses his brother; whore and rogue they call husband and wife: All professions be-rogue one another.
• Can you support the expense of a husband, hussy, in gaming, drinking and whoring? Have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man and wife about who shall squander most?
• How the mother is to be pitied who hath handsome daughters! Locks, bolts, bars, and lectures of morality are nothing to them: they break through them all. They have as much pleasure in cheating a father and mother, as in cheating at cards.
• Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves or flocks. Of all animals of prey, man is the only sociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbor, and yet we herd together.
• An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse.
• Fill it up. I take as large draughts of liquor as I did of love. I hate a flincher in either.
• Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.