John Gay Quotes

We are more solicitous that men speak of us, than how they speak.

Simple narcissism gives the power of beasts to politicians, professional wrestlers and female movie stars.

Vanity does not refer to the opinion a man entertains of himself, but to that which he wishes others to entertain of him.

The great always sell their society to the vanity of the little.

Fancy sets the value on the gifts of fortune.

The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in change, as from the distaste we feel in being too little admired by those that know us too well, and the hope of being more admired by those that know us less.

There is much money given to be laughed at, though the purchasers don't know it; witness A.'s fine horse, and B.'s fine house.

Those Women who boast the Affections of their Admirers, have a greater share of Vanity than Love.

A person who is anxious to be a leader of the fashion, or one of the first to follow it, will certainly appear in the eyes of judicious men to have nothing better than a frequent change of dress to recommend him to notice.

Through your rags I see your vanity.

The prestige you acquire by being able to tell your friends that you know famous men proves only that you are yourself of small account.

Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title. The thing is perfectly harmless in itself, but it marks a sort of foppery in the human character, which degrades it.

Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but it is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.

Many commit the same crimes with a very different result. One bears a cross for his crime; another a crown.

It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are still sitting on our own ass.

The common practice of keeping up appearances with society is a mere selfish struggle of the vain with the vain.

To make a fine gentleman, several trades are required, but chiefly a barber.

Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch-hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Barontage; there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; . . .

Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.

A coxcomb is one whom simpletons believe to be a man of merit.

Glory and fame mean twelve thousand francs' worth of paid articles in the newspapers and five thousand crowns' worth of dinners.

A fop takes great pains to hang out a sign, by his dress, of what he has within.

Thirty-five is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years.