Who said “The want of a thing is perplexing enough, but the possession of it, is intolerable.”?

Verified

Sir John Vanbrugh. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Confederacy, Act I, sc ii.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Confederacy, Act I, sc ii..

APA

Vanbrugh, S. J. (n.d.). The want of a thing is perplexing enough, but the possession of it, is intolerable. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9508-the-want-of-a-thing-is-perplexing-enough/

MLA

Vanbrugh, Sir John. “The want of a thing is perplexing enough, but the possession of it, is intolerable.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9508-the-want-of-a-thing-is-perplexing-enough/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Vanbrugh, Sir John. “The want of a thing is perplexing enough, but the possession of it, is intolerable.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9508-the-want-of-a-thing-is-perplexing-enough/.