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
animals children diversion fighting imitation sorts
Most sorts of diversion in men, children and other animals, are an imitation of fighting
contented folly laughed men
Men are contented to be laughed at for their wit, but not for their folly
May you live every day of your life.
best company conversation left rules wish
One of the very best rules of conversation is to never, say anything which any of the company wish had been left unsaid.
best company conversation left reasonably rules unsaid wish
One of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid
fool invented wonder
Lord! I wonder what fool it was that first invented kissing.
commonly word
Politics, as the word is commonly understood, are nothing but corruption.
bit food maxim men tis
Tis an old maxim in the schools, That flattery's the food of fools; Yet now and then your men of wit, Will condescend to take a bit
age-and-aging god grow men merely sacrifice virtuous
When men grow virtuous in their old age, they are merely making a sacrifice to God of the Devil's leavings
change comrades stories
Faith! He must make his stories shorter or change his comrades once a quarter.
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
against appears dunces genius true
When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
comfort keeps man proud time
If a proud man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is that he keeps his at the same time
belief cannot concealed defect ought
The want of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.