Jonathan Swift Quotes
-
The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance, and never to keep his word.
-
In oratory the greatest art is to hide art.
-
Had Windham possessed discretion in debate, or Sheridan in conduct, they might have ruled their age.
-
Those dreams that on the silent night intrude, and with false flitting shapes our minds delude ... are mere productions of the brain. And fools consult interpreters in vain.
-
So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with less.
-
There are certain common privileges of a writer, the benefit whereof, I hope, there will be no reason to doubt; particularly, that where I am not understood, it shall be concluded, that something very useful and profound is couched underneath; and again, that whatever word or sentence is printed in a different character, shall be judged to contain something extraordinary either or wit of sublime.
-
Strange an astrologer should die, without one wonder in the sky.
-
I love good creditable acquaintance; I love to be the worst of the company.
-
Fine words! I wonder where you stole them.
-
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.
-
With a whirl of thought oppressed I sink from reverie to rest. An horrid vision seized my head, I saw the graves give up their dead.
-
A Child will make two Dishes at an Entertainment for Friends; and when the Family dines alone, the fore or hind Quarter will makea reasonable Dish; and seasoned with a little Pepper or Salt, will be very good Boiled on the fourth Day, especially in Winter.
-
Men always grow vicious before they become unbelievers.
-
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.
-
Usually speaking, the worst-bred person in company is a young traveller just returned from abroad.
-
Dignity, high station, or great riches, are in some sort necessary to old men, in order to keep the younger at a distance, who are otherwise too apt to insult them upon the score of their age.
-
Wise people are never less alone than when they are alone.
-
Whence proceeds this weight we lay On what detracting people say? Their utmost malice cannot make Your head, or tooth, or finger ache; Nor spoil your shapes, distort your face, Or put one feature out of place.
-
Silks, velvets, calicoes, and the whole lexicon of female fopperies.
-
I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards the Tartar: Then the half, and then the whole, Ever dancing round the pole.
-
If you were not reasoned into your beliefs, you cannot be reasoned out of them.
-
Come, agree, the law's costly.
-
It is with wits as with razors, which are never so apt to cut those they are employed on as when they have lost their edge.
-
Lord, Madame, I have fed like a farmer; I shall grow as fat as a porpoise.