Quotes from the Play
A scattered selection of quotes from the play, offering a taste of Farquhar's many tones, themes, and characters.
ARCHER. '[T]is still my maxim, that there is no scandal like rags, nor any crime so shameful as poverty
AIMWELL. The world confesses it every day in its practice, though men don't own it for their opinion.
-Act One
AIMWELL. [W]e have lived justly, Archer: we can't say that we have spent our fortunes, but that we have enjoyed 'em.
-Act One
ARCHER. Past pleasures, for aught I know, are best, such as we are sure of; those to come may disappoint us.
-Act One
BONIFACE. I don't think it lawful to harbour any rogues but my own.
-Act One
MRS. SULLEN. O sister, sister! if ever you marry, beware of a sullen, silent sot, one that’s always musing, but never thinks. There’s some diversion in a talking blockhead; and since a woman must wear chains, I would have the pleasure of hearing ’em rattle a little.
-Act Two, Scene One
MRS. SULLEN. A man dare not play the tyrant in London, because there are so many examples to encourage the subject to rebel.
-Act Two, Scene One
AIMWELL. The appearance of a stranger in a country church draws as many gazers as a blazing star.
-Act Two, Scene Two
MRS. SULLEN. In the country, you know, any stranger is company.
-Act Three, Scene One
ARCHER. Are you in love with her person or her virtue, brother Scrub?
SCRUB. I should like virtue best, because it is more durable than beauty; for virtue holds good with some women long, and many a day after they have lsot it.
-Act Three, Scene Three
SULLEN. 'Sdeath, why can't you be silent?
MRS. SULLEN. 'Sdeath, why can't you talk?
SULLEN. Do you talk to any purpose?
MRS. SULLEN. Do you think to any purpose?
-Act Three, Scene Three
AIMWELL. Sure I have passed through the gulf of silent death,
And now I land on the Elysian shore!—
Behold the goddess of those happy plains,
Fair Proserpine—let me adore thy bright divinity.
-Act Four, Scene One
FOIGARD. I am your priest, gra; and your conscience is under my hands.
GIPSY. But should I put the count into the closet—
FOIGARD. Vel, is dere any shin for a man's being in a closhet? One may go to prayers in a closhet.
GIPSY. But if the lady should come into her chamber, and go to bed?
FOIGARD. Vel, and is dere any shin in going to bed, joy?
GIPSY. Ay, but if the parties should meet, doctor?
FOIGARD. Vel den—the parties must be responsible.
-Act Four, Scene One
MRS. SULLEN. It happens with us among the men; the greatest talkers are the greatest cowards: and there's a reason for it; those spirits evaporate in prattle, which might do more mischief if they took another course.
-Act Four, Scene One
SIR CHARLES. As I take it, Mr. Justice, nobody observes law for law's sake, only for the good of those for whom it was made.
-Act Five, Scene One
AIMWELL. I'm all conterfeit, except my passion.
-Act Five, Scene Four
ARCHER. 'Twould be hard to guess which of these parties is the better pleased, the couple joined, or the couple parted; the one rejoicing in hopes of an untasted happiness, and the other in their deliverance from an unexpected misery.
-Act Five, Scene Four
