It is as hard to satirize well a man of distinguished vices, as to praise well a man of distinguished virtues. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Vain men delight in telling what Honours have been done them, what great Company they have kept, and the like; by which… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Some men, under the notion of weeding out prejudice, eradicate virtue, honesty and religion. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The system of morality to be gathered from the ancient sages falls very short of that delivered in the gospel. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Perpetual aiming at wit is a very bad part of conversation. It is done to support a character: it generally fails; it… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
“There are certain common privileges of a writer, the benefit whereof I hope there will be no reason to doubt; particularly, that… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The preaching of divines helps to preserve well-inclined men in the course of virtue, but seldom or ever reclaims the vicious. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Men of wit, learning and virtue might strike out every offensive or unbecoming passage from plays. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The motives of the best actions will not bear too strict an inquiry. It is allowed that the cause of most actions,… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Some men, under the notion of weeding out prejudices, eradicate virtue, honesty, and religion — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Brisk talkers are usually slow thinkers. There is, indeed, no wild beast more to be dreaded than a communicative man having nothing… — 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
