For poetry, he's past his prime, He takes an hour to find a rhyme; His fire is out, his wit decayed, His… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Whatever the poets pretend, it is plain they give immortality to none but themselves; it is Homer and Virgil we reverence and… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
What poet would not grieve to see His brother write as well as he? But rather than they should excel, He'd wish… — 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
From not the gravest of Divines, Accept for once some serious Lines. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Unjustly poets we asperse: Truth shines the brighter clad in verse, And all the fictions they pursue Do but insinuate what is… — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
Say, Britain, could you ever boast, Three poets in an age at most? Our chilling climate hardly bears A sprig of bays… — 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
For though, in nature, depth and height Are equally held infinite: In poetry, the height we know; 'Tis only infinite below. — Jonathan Swift Copy Share Image
I have always a sacred veneration for anyone I observe to be a little out of repair in his person, as supposing… — 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
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
