John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
3827 John Gay 1685-1732 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 3827 |
| AUTHOR: | John Gay (1685–1732) |
| QUOTATION: | Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O’er books consum’d the midnight oil? 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Fables. Part i. The Shepherd and the Philosopher. |
| Note 1. ”Midnight oil,”—a common phrase, used by Quarles, Shenstone, Cowper, Lloyd, and others. [back] |