Quote#Wisdom
Who to patch up his fame, or fill his purse
Quote byCharles Churchill · 1731–1764
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Apology addressed to the Critical Reviewers (1761), line 232, comparable with: "Steal! to be sure they may; and, egad, serve your best thoughts as gypsies do stolen children,—disguise them to make 'em pass for their own", Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Critic, act i. sc. i.
English (original)
Who to patch up his fame, or fill his purse, Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse; Like gypsies, lest the stolen brat be known, Defacing first, then claiming for his own.
— Charles Churchill
More from Charles Churchill
Fashion—a word which knaves and fools may use, Their knavery and folly to excuse. To copy beauties, forfeits all pretence To fame—to copy faults, is want of sense.
He mouths a sentence as curs mouth a bone.
He sickened at all triumphs but his own.
Men the most infamous are fond of fame, And those who fear not guilt yet start at shame.
Genius is of no country; her pure ray Spreads all abroad, as general as the day.
Not without Art, but yet to Nature true, She charms the town with humour just, yet new.