It is in men as in soils where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
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
If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is, he keeps his at the same time. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Such a man, truly wise, creams off Nature leaving the sour and the dregs for philosophy and reason to lap up. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Most sorts of diversion in men, children and other animals, are in imitation of fighting. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil's leavings. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
When a man is made a spiritual peer he loses his surname; when a temporal, his Christian name. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
There are few wild beasts more to be dreaded than a talking man having nothing to say. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
The common fluency of speech in many men, and most women, is owing to a scarcity of matter and a scarcity 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
One principal object of good-breeding is to suit our behaviour to the three several degrees of men, our superiors, our equals, and… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
I have known some men possessed of good qualities which were very serviceable to others, but useless to themselves; like a sun-dial… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
How often do we contradict the right rules of reason in the whole course of our lives! Reason itself is true and… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Neither is it safe to count upon the weakness of any man's understanding, who is thoroughly possessed of the spirit of revenge… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
A traveler's chief aim should be to make men wiser and better, and to improve their minds by the bad-as well as… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavor to do himself honor among those who… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
There is no talent so useful toward rising in the world, or which puts men more out of the reach of fortune,… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
When you set about your composing, it may be necessary for your ease, and better distillation of wit, to put on your… — 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
Ingratitude is amongst them a capital crime, as we read it to have been in some other countries: for they reason thus;… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Your notions of friendship are new to me; I believe every man is born with his quantum, and he cannot give to… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
For in that universal call, Few bankers will to heaven be mounters; They'll cry, "Ye shops, upon us fall! Conceal and cover… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Hail, follow, well met, All dirty and wet: Find out, if you can, Who's master, who's man. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
There never appear more than five or six men of genius in an age, but if they were united the world could… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Few are qualified to shine in company, but it is in most men's power to be agreeable. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Old men and comets have been reverenced for the same reason: their long beards, and pretences to foretell events. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
A poor spirit is poorer than a poor purse. A very few pounds a year would ease a man of the scandal… — 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
Some men, under the notion of weeding out prejudice, eradicate virtue, honesty and religion. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Whoever makes the fewest persons uneasy, is the best bred man in company. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
When a man of genius appears in the world, it is immediately recognized by the fact that all the blockheads join forces… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired — 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
