John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
4442 Charles Churhill 1731-1764 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 4442 |
| AUTHOR: | Charles Churchill (1731–1764) |
| QUOTATION: | 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. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | The Apology. Line 232. |
| Note 1. 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. [back] |