Jonathan Swift Quotes
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There is no talent so useful toward rising in the world, or which puts men more out of the reach of fortune, than that quality generally possessed by the dullest sort of men, and in common speech called discretion; a species of lower prudence, by the assistance of which, people of the meanest intellectuals, without any other qualification, pass through the world in great tranquillity, and with universal good treatment, neither giving nor taking offence.
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We have an intuitive sense of our duty.
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Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long continuance as those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things indifferent.
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When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.
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It is pleasant to observe how free the present age is in laying taxes on the next. "Future ages shall talk of this; they shall be famous to all posterity;" whereas their time and thoughts will be taken up about present things, as ours are now.
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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.
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Let a man be never so wise, he may be caught with sober lies.
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Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.
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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.
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It is in disputes as in armies, where the weaker side sets up false lights, and makes a great noise, to make the enemy believe them more numerous and strong than they really are.
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The first springs of great events, like those of great rivers, are often mean and little.
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The more careless, the more modish.
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They say fish should swim thrice * * * first it should swim in the sea (do you mind me?) then it should swim in butter, and at last, sirrah, it should swim in good claret.
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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.
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The sight of you is good for sore eyes.
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If a man will observe as he walks the streets, I believe he will find the merriest countenances in mourning coaches.
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I love white Portugal wine better than claret, champagne, or burgundy. I have a sad vulgar appetite.
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Some men, under the notion of weeding out prejudice, eradicate virtue, honesty and religion.
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Would a writer know how to behave himself with relation td posterity? Let him consider in old books what he finds that he is glad to know, and what omissions he most laments.
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By the laws of God, of nature, of nations, and of your country you are and ought to be as free a people as your brethren in England.