If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to such a scoundrel.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Riches, Wealth
But when a Man
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Propaganda
The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Belief
Once you kick the world, and the world and you will live together at a reasonably good understanding.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: World
Ambition often puts men upon doing the meanest offices; so climbing is performed in the same posture with creeping.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Ambition
It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before, may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Justice
A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal delicacy, propriety, and judgment?
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Swearing, Profanity, Vulgarity
Most sorts of diversion in men, children and other animals are an imitation of fighting.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Sports
This is every cook’s opinion – no savory dish without an onion, but lest your kissing should be spoiled your onions must be fully boiled.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Eating
Men of great parts are often unfortunate in the management of public business because they are apt to go out of the common road by the quickness of their imagination.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Business
What they do in heaven we are ignorant of; but what they do not do we are told expressly; they neither marry nor are given in marriage.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Marriage, Heaven
Rebukes are easy from our betters,
From men of quality and letters;
But when low dunces will affront,
What man alive can stand the brunt?
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Insults
Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: One liners, Age, Aging, Wishes, Desire
All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; ’tis like spending this year, part of the next year’s revenue.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Pleasure
Arbitrary power is the natural object of temptation to a prince; as wine of women to a young fellow, or a bribe to a judge, or avarice to old age, or vanity to a woman.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Power
Style may defined as the proper words in the proper places.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Style, Authors & Writing, Words, Writers
As credulity is a more peaceful possession of the mind than curiosity, so preferable is that wisdom which converses about the surface, to that pretended philosophy which enters into the depth of things, and then comes back gravely with the informations and discoveries that in the inside they are good for nothing.
—Jonathan Swift
The reason why so few marriages are happy is because young ladies spend their time in making nets, not in making cages.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Marriage
That was excellently observed, say I, when I read a passage in an author, where his opinion agrees with mine. When we differ, there I pronounce him to be mistaken.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Opinion
The affectation of some late authors to introduce and multiply cant words is the most ruinous corruption in any language.
—Jonathan Swift
Men of great parts are often unfortunate in the management of public business because they are apt to go out of the common road by the quickness of their imagination.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Imagination
Very few men, properly speaking, live at present, but are providing to live another time.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: The Present
Although the devil be the father of lies, he seems, like other great inventors, to have lost much of his reputation by the continual improvements that have been made upon him.
—Jonathan Swift
Style may be defined, “proper words in proper places.”
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Style
May you live every day of your life.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Life, Wisdom, Philosophy, Inspirational
I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child, well nursed, is at a year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Children
A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Money
‘Tis an old maxim in the schools,
That flattery’s the food of fools;
Yet now and then your men of wit
Will condescend to take a bit.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Flattery
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Riches, Charity, Wealth
Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Power
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
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- Sheridan Le Fanu Irish Novelist
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- James Joyce Irish Novelist
- Edmund Burke British Philosopher, Statesman
- Elizabeth Bowen Irish Novelist
- William Butler Yeats Irish Poet
- George William Russell Irish Author
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