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Jonathan Swift Quotes

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Jonathan Swift, born on November 30, 1667, and died on October 19, 1745, was an Irish writer, satirist, and politician, renowned for his satirical works.

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All Men Ifs Literature Age World Should May Reason Knows Wells Law Wise Wit Book Giving Ill Persons Two Company Has Beens

Famous Jonathan Swift Quotes

“The worthiest people are the most injured by slander, as is the best fruit which the birds have been pecking at.”

People Has Beens Bird Fruit Injured Slander

Author:Jonathan Swift

“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.”

Has Beens Made Seems Lying Father Lost Devil Improvement Reputation Falsehood Inventor Continual Improvement Great Inventors

Book:Gulliver's Travels and Other Writings

Source: Gulliver's Travels and Other Writings

“I forget whether advice be among the lost things which Ariosto says are to be found in the moon: that and time ought to have been there.”

Has Beens Found Lost Forget Advice Ought Moon Lost Things

Book:The Works of Jonathan Swift: Miscellaneous essays

Source: The Works of Jonathan Swift: Miscellaneous essays

“In all assemblies, though you wedge them ever so close, we may observe this peculiar property, that over their heads there is room enough; but how to reach it is the difficult point. To this end the philosopher's way in all ages has been by erecting certain edifices in the air.”

Way May Has Beens Ends Enough Age Certain Difficult Rooms Air Property Philosopher Peculiar Assembly Edifice Wedges Castles In The Air

Book:A Modest Proposal and Other Prose

Source: A Modest Proposal and Other Prose

“Vain men delight in telling what Honours have been done them, what great Company they have kept, and the like; by which they plainly confess, that these Honours were more than their Due, and such as their Friends would not believe if they had not been told: Whereas a Man truly proud, thinks the greatest Honours below his Merit, and consequently scorns to boast. I therefore deliver it as a Maxim that whoever desires the Character of a proud Man, ought to conceal his Vanity.”

Source: The Works of Jonathan Swift ...: Containing Interesting and Valuable Papers, Not Hitherto Published ... With Memoir of the Author

“I have now lost my barrier between me and death; God grant I may live to be as well prepared for it, as I confidently believe her to have been! If the way to Heaven be through piety, truth, justice and charity, she is there.”

Ifs Way Believe Wells May Has Beens Lost Heaven Justice Prepared Charity Barriers Grants Piety

Book:Works

Source: Works

“It is impossible that anything so natural, so necessary, and so universal as death, should ever have been designed by providence as an evil to mankind.”

Should Has Beens Death Evil Natural Impossible Mankind Dying Universal Death And Dying Providence Dying Death Someone Dying Natural Death

Book:Sermons (cont.) Tracts in defence of Christianity. Tracts in support of the Church establishment. Tracts on the test act. Essays, periodical and miscellaneous

Source: Sermons (cont.) Tracts in defence of Christianity. Tracts in support of the Church establishment. Tracts on the test act. Essays, periodical and miscellaneous

“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.”

Years Wells Children Has Beens Young Knowing Doubt Food Healthy London No Doubt Nurse Delicious Assured Acquaintance Healthy Children Wholesome Food

Author:Jonathan Swift

“Ingratitude is amongst them a capital crime, as we read it to have been in some other countries: for they reason thus; that whoever makes ill-returns to his benefactor, must needs be a common enemy to the rest of the mankind, from where he has received no obligations and therefore such man is not fit to live.”

Men Needs Has Beens Country Reason Common Enemy Mankind Crime Return Fit Ill Obligation Other Countries Ingratitude Benefactors Common Enemy

Author:Jonathan Swift

“You should never be ashamed to admit you have been wrong. It only proves you are wiser today than yesterday”

Should Writing Has Beens Today Prove Yesterday Rejection Ashamed Wiser

Author:Jonathan Swift

“For the rest, whatever we have got has been by infinite labor, and search, and ranging through every corner of nature; the difference is that instead of dirt and poison, we have rather chosen to fill our hives with honey and wax, thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.”

Has Beens Two Light Culture Differences Mankind Labor Infinite Corners Chosen Poison Honey Dirt Sweetness Hives Bees And Honey

Author:Jonathan Swift

“Old men and comets have been reverenced for the same reason: their long beards, and pretences to foretell events.”

Men Long Has Beens Reason Age Events Old Age Old Man Beard Pretence Comets

Author:Jonathan Swift