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The Way of the World

by William Congreve

The Way of the World Quotes and Analysis

But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved. To pass our youth in dull
indifference, to refuse the sweets of life because they once must leave us, is as preposterous as to wish to have
been born old, because we one day must be old.
Ms. Marwood (Act II, Scene I)

Though this quote may sound familiar, the similar, more famous quote "Tis better to have loved and lost than
never to have loved at all" was actually written by Alfred Lord Tennyson in the poem "In Memoriam A.H.H."
almost 150 years later. However, this quote is still interesting and insightful, as it speaks to the resolution of the
play - perhaps it is justified to have participated in schemes and conflict to end up with some amount of love
winning out in the end.

One no more owes one's beauty to a lover than one's wit to an echo
Mrs. Millament (Act II, Scene II)

This quote being spoken by a young woman is of utmost importance to the play, as much of the witty conflict
in the dialogue, especially in the early acts, centers around women's ability to sustain their power and selfhood
without men, while in relationships with men, and as they age. Ms. Millamant says here that she creates and
owns her own beauty, and thus does not need a man to give her worth but rather to appreciate and perhaps
magnify her worth.

"I'll tell thee, Fainall, she once used with that insolence, that in revenge I took her to pieces; sifted her, and
separated her failings; I studied 'em and got 'em by rote. The catalogue was so large, that I was not without
hopes one day or other to hate her heartily: to which end I used myself to think of 'em, that at length, contrary

to my design and expectation, they gave me every hour less and less disturbance; till in a few days it became
habitual to me to remember 'em without being displeased. They are now grown as familiar to me as my own
frailties; and in all probability, in a little time longer, I shall like 'em as well."
Mirabell (Act I, Scene II)

In this quote, Mirabell proves to the audience that his romantic intentions with Ms. Millamant are pure. The
quote, though still wry and witty, is one of the few, especially in his character's wheelhouse, that speaks to love
separate from money, reputation, and secrecy. Mirabell confesses that he is not only in love with Ms. Millamant
for her beauty or wit but for her faults, meaning he truly loves her completely and for herself.

"Friendship without freedom is as dull as love without enjoyment, or wine without toasting."
Witwoud (Act I, Scene II)

Two kinds of relationships are of perhaps equal importance in this story - romantic relationships and platonic
relationships, especially those between characters of the same gender. Though Witwoud is justifying having
spoken ill of his rival and yet supposed friend Petulant, what freedoms one has in either kind of these
relationships is very important to the play, as is especially underscored in the scene in which Ms. Millamont and
Mirabell lay out the terms of freedom in their proposed marriage. That the simile refers to love, "enjoyment" of
love, and wine alludes to the sexy and generally debaucherous nature of the play, especially in later acts.

"If we will be happy, we must find the means in ourselves, and among ourselves. Men are ever in extremes;
either doting or averse."
Mrs. Fainall (Act II, Scene I)

Again, a woman discusses her, and the ability or necessity of all women, to live for themselves rather than for
men. However, this quote is ironic because of the situation the women are in in this scene and later, attempting
to discover whether the other loves the same man as she, whether she is committing adultery, and how one
may use the other to keep or gain money and reputation.

"Why do we daily commit disagreeable and dangerous actions? To save that idol, reputation."
Mirabell (Act II, Scene II)

This quote sums up one of the most important themes of Congreve's play - the overwhelming importance of
reputation to the characters. In the climax of the play, the actions and reactions largely stop being concerned
with love or even money, and what Lady Wishfort seems to fear most is a loss of good reputation for herself
and her daughter. Certainly, many of the actions in the play are "disagreeable and dangerous," especially to
people's reputations, but they must carry through with them for the sake of saving reputation as much as
possible, with attention to fashion and wit along the way for the same reason.

"One's cruelty is one's power; and then one parts with one's cruelty, one parts with one's power; and when one
has parted with that, I fancy one's old and ugly."
Ms. Millament (Act II, Scene II)

This quote, again of special importance because spoken by a woman, describes another facet to reputation the interplay between youth, beauty, and power for women in upper society. Though this particular quote is
spoken by Ms. Millamant, who herself is both beautiful and commanding, the character that most embodies the
fear surrounding this quote is Lady Wishfort, who spends hours putting on makeup and preparing to be wooed,
only to find that she was again duped, perhaps because her very age makes her desperate to be confirmed as
beautiful and powerful.

"A man may as soon make a friend by his wit, or a fortune by his honesty, as win a woman by plain dealing and
sincerity."
Mirabell (Act II, Scene II)

This quote again encapsulates the problematic relationship in the play between friendship, romance, money,
fashion, and lies. Mirabell sarcastically implies that one cannot get a friend with wit, a fortune with honesty, or a
woman with sincerity, and his point is proven at the end of the play when his schemes, along with a dash of
charming wit, result in a successful ending for him regarding friendship, women, and money.

"A fellow that lives in a windmill, has not a more whimsical dwelling than the heart of a man that is lodged in a
woman."
Mirabell (Act II, Scene II)

In this quote, Mirabell again makes one of his rare comments about love away from the topics of adultery or
money. His saying this is perhaps an excuse for the mess his scheme gets everyone in the play swept up in - he
is driven crazy by love.

"After our Epilogue this crowd dismisses

I'm thinking how this play'll be pulled to pieces.
But pray consider, ere you doom its fall,
How hard a thing 'twould be to please you all.
There are some critics so with spleen diseased,
They scarcely come inclining to be pleased..."
The actress playing Mrs. Millament (Epilogue)

In both the prologue and epilogue, Congreve pleads with the audience to give his play fair analysis. This quote
can perhaps be seen as a criticism of audiences throughout the ages, especially educated ones, who often
attend a play looking more to criticize than to enjoy, not giving the playwright, the play, or their own happiness
a fair chance.

How To Cite http://www.gradesaver.com/the-way-of-the-world/studyguide/quotes in MLA Format

Cohen, Madeline. Suduiko, Aaron ed. "The Way of the World Quotes and Analysis". GradeSaver, 3 October 2015
Web. 7 December 2016.

The Way of the World Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Way of the World is a great resource to ask questions, find
answers, and discuss thenovel.

The Mauryan Empire

(326-184BCE) followed
the conquests of what in
India?
The Mauryan Empire (326-184BCE)
followed the conquests of Alexander
the Great in northwest India.
Asked by Stacie C #583991
Answered by jill d #170087 5 days ago
12/2/2016 5:50 PM

The characters in William

Congreve's "The way of
the world" are types than
the individuals
.Comment

The Way of The World by

William Congreve

I'm sorry, I do not understand your

question. "Types than the individuals"?
Please check your question and clarify.

A Comedy of Manners is named as such

to call attention to one of its most
central themes - manners, or social
etiquette, and the comedy that can
ensue because of the importance,
especially to the upper class during the
Restoration, of preserving...

Asked by Richa P #579546

Answered by jill d #170087 16 days ago
11/21/2016 7:36 PM

Asked by Maria K #476013

Answered by Aslan a year ago
11/4/2015 8:39 AM

Essays for The Way of the World

The Way of the World essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students
and provide critical analysis of the play The Way of the World by William Congreve.

Contrasting the Roles of Women in Restoration and Early 18th Century Dramas

Wikipedia Entries for The Way of the World

Introduction
Characters
Plot
Epigraph of the 1700 edition
Historical context