The Country Wife
CRITIQUE | QUOTES
1934 editionFirst publication
1675
Literature form
Play
Genres
Literary
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Five acts, approx. 30,000 spoken words
Notable lines
Poets, like cudgell'd bullies, never do,
At first or second blow submit to you;
But will provoke you still, and ne'er have done,
Till you are weary first with laying on.
— First line, Prologue
A quack is as fit for a pimp as a midwife for a bawd; they are still but in their way, both helpers of nature.
— First line, Act I
And then the next thing is, your women of honour, as you call 'em, are only chary of their reputations, not their persons; and 'tis scandal they would avoid, not men.
'Tis my maxim, he's a fool that marries; but he's a greater that does not marry a fool. What is wit in a wife good for, but to make a man a cuckold?
A beauty masked, like the sun in eclipse, gathers together more gazers than if it shined out.
No, madam, marrying to increase love is like gaming to become rich; alas! you only lose what little stock you had before.
For your bigots in honour are just like those in religion; they fear the eye of the world more than the eye of Heaven; and think there is no virtue, but railing at vice, and no sin, but giving scandal.
But he who aims by women to be priz'd;
First by the men, you see, must be despis'd.
— Last line, Act V
And men may still believe you vigorous,
But then we women—there's no cozening us.
— Last line, Epilogue
CRITIQUE | QUOTES
