Of all the world's enjoyments
That ever valued were,
There's none of our employments
read more

Of all the world's enjoyments
That ever valued were,
There's none of our employments
With fishing can compare.
- Thomas Durfee (or D'Urfey),

It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes.

Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes.

The line with its rod is a long instrument whose lesser end holds
a small reptile, while the other read more

The line with its rod is a long instrument whose lesser end holds
a small reptile, while the other is held by a great fool.
[Fr., La ligne avec sa canne est un long instrument,
Dont le plus mince bout tient un petit reptile,
Et dont Pautre est tenu pau un grand imbecile.]

I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except we
like it and it makes read more

I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except we
like it and it makes us think and feel.

The man that weds for greedy wealth,
He goes a fishing fair,
But often times he gets read more

The man that weds for greedy wealth,
He goes a fishing fair,
But often times he gets a frog,
Or very little share.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught
of the fishes that they had read more

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught
of the fishes that they had taken:
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were
partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from
henceforth, thou shalt catch men.

When if or chance or hunger's powerful sway
Directs the roving trout this fatal way,
He greedily read more

When if or chance or hunger's powerful sway
Directs the roving trout this fatal way,
He greedily sucks in the twining bait,
And tugs and nibbles the fallacious meat.
Now, happy fisherman; now twitch the line!
How thy rod bends! behold, the prize is thine!

They may the better fish in the water when it is troubled.

They may the better fish in the water when it is troubled.