Truth Quotes by Jonathan Swift

13 Truth quotes by Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift’s sharp wit shines through even in his brief musings on truth. These thirteen sayings deliver his characteristic satire and moral clarity, offering a quick, incisive look at his perspective on honesty.

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Tell truth, and shame the devil.

Jonathan Swift

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Many a truth is told in jest.

Jonathan Swift

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Falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it.

Jonathan Swift

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Under the rose, since here are none but friends, To own the truth we have some private ends.

Jonathan Swift

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“If a lie be believed only for an hour, it hath done its work.”

Jonathan Swift

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Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest…

Jonathan Swift

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A lie does not consist in the indirect position of words, but in the desire and intention, by false speaking, to deceive…

Jonathan Swift

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I have now lost my barrier between me and death; God grant I may live to be as well prepared for it,…

Jonathan Swift

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Who can deny that all men are violent lovers of the truth, when we see them so positive in their errors, which…

Jonathan Swift

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It often happens that, if a lie be believed only for an hour, it has done its work, and there is no…

Jonathan Swift

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It is an uncontrolled truth, that no man ever made an ill figure who understood his own talents, nor a good one…

Jonathan Swift

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Judges... are picked out from the most dextrous lawyers, who are grown old or lazy, and having been biased all their lives…

Jonathan Swift

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“Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest…

Jonathan Swift

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Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…

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“He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be…

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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…

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A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.

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I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.

Jonathan Swift

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The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…

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A lie is an excuse guarded

Jonathan Swift

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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

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May you live every day of your life.

Jonathan Swift

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Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb.

Jonathan Swift

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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

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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

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“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."…

Jonathan Swift

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I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…

Jonathan Swift

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So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with…

Jonathan Swift

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