Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swiftwas an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet and cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth30 November 1667
CountryIreland
dog horse lying
Brutes find out where their talents lie; A bear will not attempt to fly, A foundered horse will oft debate Before he tries a five barred gate. A dog by instinct turns aside Who sees the ditch too deep and wide, But man we find the only creature Who, led by folly, combats nature; Who, when she loudly cries-Forbear! With obstinacy fixes there; And where the genius least inclines, Absurdly bends his whole designs.
law special care
It is likewise to be observed that this society hath a peculiar chant and jargon of their own, that no other mortal can understand, and wherein all their laws are written, which they take special care to multiply.
funny dog lying
Pray steal me not, I'm Mrs. Dingley's, Whose heart in this four-footed thing lies.
love book passion
A ridiculous passion which hath no being but in play-books and romances.
healthcare
I row after health like a waterman...
life blind blindness
There's none so blind as they that won't see.
hands whales amusement
Seamen have a custom, when they meet a whale, to fling him out an empty tub by way of amusement, to divert him from laying violent hands upon the ship.
men vanity helping
The preaching of divines helps to preserve well-inclined men in the course of virtue, but seldom or ever reclaims the vicious.
dog rain cat
I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs.
cat watches mice
She watches him as a cat would watch a mouse.
people invention
What some people invent the rest enlarge.
favors half granted
A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.
running greed mind
When we desire or solicit anything, our minds run wholly on the good side or circumstances of it; when it is obtained, our minds run wholly on the bad ones.
sacrifice men leaving
When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil's leavings.