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
believe men mourning
If a man will observe as he walks the streets, I believe he will find the merriest countenances in mourning coaches.
heart intelligent should
An intelligent person should put money in the beginning, but not in heart
real genius world
When a real genius appeares in this world, you'll know him by the fact that all the fools have allied against him.
men facts genius
When a man of genius appears in the world, it is immediately recognized by the fact that all the blockheads join forces against him.
vision invisible seeing
Vision is seeing the invisible.
ill-will justice office
My Lawyer being practiced almost from his Cradle in defending Falsehood; is quite out of his Element when he would be an Advocate for Justice, which as an Office unnatural, he always attempts with great Awkwardness if not with Ill-will.
men ears prudes
Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry Talent of a Prude, She trembled when a Man drew near; Salute her, and she turn'd her Ear: If o'er against her you were plac'd She durst not look above your Waist
rain cat tumbling-down
Sweeping from butcher's stalls, dung, guts, and blood, Drown'd puppies, stinking sprats, all drench'd in mud, Dead cats, and turnip-tops, come tumbling down the flood.
rain cat giving
Careful observers may foretell the hour (By sure prognostics) when to dread a show'r. While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o'er Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more.
mind virtue mankind
And, is not Virtue in Mankind The Nutriment that feeds the Mind?
believe character pride
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.
rain feuds politics
Triumphant Tories, and desponding Whigs, Forget their feuds, and join to save their wigs.
fate sick joy
This Day, whate'er the Fates decree; Shall still be kept with Joy by me: This Day then, let us not be told, That you are sick, and I grown old
giving-up thinking thoughtful
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.