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Thou art a retailer of phrases, and dost deal in remnants of remnants, like a maker of pincushions; thou art in truth (metaphorically speaking) a speaker of shorthand.

— William Congreve The Way of the World (1700)

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More quotes by William Congreve

Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.

Love for Love (1695)

I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.

The Old Bachelor (1693)

I warrant you, if he danced till doomsday, he thought I was to pay the piper.

Love for Love (1695)

And the prettiest foot! Oh, if a man could but fasten his eyes to her feet, as they steal in and out, and play at bo-peep under her petticoats!

Love for Love (1695)

Women are like tricks by sleight of hand,
Which, to admire, we should not understand.

Love for Love (1695)

All William Congreve quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: William Congreve (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.