A true critic, in the perusal of a book, is like a dog at a feast, whose thoughts and stomach are wholly… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The affectation of some late authors to introduce and multiply cant words is the most ruinous corruption in any language. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
For, what though his Head be empty, provided his Common place-Book be full... — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“Jonathan Swift (November 30, 1667 – October 19, 1745) was an Irish cleric, satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for Whigs then for… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Books, like men their authors, have no more than one wayofcoming intothe world, but there areten thousand to go out of it,… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
When I am reading a book, whether wise or silly, it seems to me to be alive and talking to me. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
That was excellently observed’, say I, when I read a passage in an author, where his opinion agrees with mine. When we… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“The author of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend; there is likewise some relation between us on… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“Whatever reader desires to have a thorough comprehension of an author's thoughts cannot take a better method than by putting himself into… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
If it were a rainy day, a drunken vigil, a fit of the spleen, a course of physic, sleepy Sunday, an ill… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“Readers may be divided into three classes - the superficial, the ignorant, and the learned, and I have with much felicity fitted… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as in books it is generally the worst sort of reading. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“Books, like men their authors, have no more than one way of coming into the world, but there are ten thousand to… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“A humour of reading books, except those of devotion or housewifery, is apt to turn a woman's brain... All affectation of knowledge… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as it is generally in books the worst sort of reading. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The most ignorant person, at a reasonable charge, and with a little bodily labour, might write books in philosophy, poetry, politics, laws,… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Would a writer know how to behave himself with relation td posterity? Let him consider in old books what he finds that… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
A ridiculous passion which hath no being but in play-books and romances. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Abstracts, abridgments, summaries, etc., have the same use with burning-glasses,--to collect the diffused light rays of wit and learning in authors, and… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Nor do they trust their tongue alone, but speak a language of their own; can read a nod, a shrug, a look,… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
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… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
