--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Satire is a sort of glass, wherein…" description: "\"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.\" — Jonathan Swift" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg" --- # Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally… ![“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg) > “Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Satire reflects society's flaws, yet people often fail to see their own shortcomings. **In simple terms:** Self‑deception in criticism Key Takeaway We see others' faults, not ours Themes self‑awareness critique humor psychology social perception Mood ironic thought‑provoking wry Type aphorism observation social commentary When to use this quote - reading political cartoons - participating in debates - evaluating personal behavior Key Concepts satire reflection bias Practical Applications - using satire to expose hypocrisy - teaching critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does satire change your view of yourself? - When have you recognized your own bias through humor? A Different Perspective Satire can also reinforce stereotypes if not carefully crafted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Satire is, indeed, the only sort of composition in which the Latin poets whose works have come down to us were not mere imitators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/satire-is-indeed-the-only-sort-of-composition-in-which-the-latin/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which is a pity because this week the National Association of Beholders wrote to tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-which-is-a-pity-because-this/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [“Animals are not only beholders of great beauty, but they are also beholders of ancient wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/animals-are-not-only-beholders-of-great-beauty-but-they-are-also/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Most of my beholders are blind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basith/beauty-lies-in-the-eyes-of-the-beholder-most-of-my-beholders-are-blind/) [Basith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basith/) > [It scares you: all the noise, the rattling, the shaking. But the look on everybody's face when you're finished and packing, it's the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-adair/it-scares-you-all-the-noise-the-rattling-the-shaking-but-the-look-on/) [Red Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-adair/) > [I know that pretty much everybody I face is going to wind up wanting to take me down eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-know-that-pretty-much-everybody-i-face-is-going-to-wind-up-wanting/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [Failure is something which everybody has to face. It is part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/failure-is-something-which-everybody-has-to-face-it-is-part-of-life/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [There will be a whole new spirit blowing through Texas. 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I think everybody has to face their fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-think-a-lot-of-times-you-have-to-face-your-fears-i-think-everybody/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [“I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-one-word-to-say-upon-the-subject-of-profound-writers-who-are/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [It is as hard to satirize well a man of distinguished vices, as to praise well a man of distinguished virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-as-hard-to-satirize-well-a-man-of-distinguished-vices-as-to/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [When the Lilliputians first saw Gulliver's watch, that "wonderful kind of engine...a globe, half silver and half of some transparent metal," they identified it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/when-the-lilliputians-first-saw-gulliver-s-watch-that-wonderful-kind/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [Tomorrow is a satire on today, And shows its weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/tomorrow-is-a-satire-on-today-and-shows-its-weakness/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Everybody should read 'Slaughterhouse-Five' by Kurt Vonnegut. This book is about the hypocrisy of war, told in satire, and is hard-hitting and truthful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/everybody-should-read-slaughterhouse-five-by-kurt-vonnegut-this-book/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) ## More by Jonathan Swift > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/he-said-he-knew-no-reason-why-those-who-entertain-opinions/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-forward-critic-often-dupes-us-with-sham-quotations-peri-hupsos-and/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [May you live every day of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/may-you-live-every-day-of-your-life/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/ale-is-meat-drink-and-cloth-it-will-make-a-cat-speak-and-a-wise-man/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/all-fits-of-pleasure-are-balanced-by-an-equal-degree-of-pain-or/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/when-a-great-genius-appears-in-the-world-you-may-know-him-by-this/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-ever-hated-all-nations-professions-and-communities-and-all-my/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desires-of-men-that-they-will-grasp/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) [Explore all 535 Jonathan Swift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More Satire quotes > [Everybody should read 'Slaughterhouse-Five' by Kurt Vonnegut. This book is about the hypocrisy of war, told in satire, and is hard-hitting and truthful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/everybody-should-read-slaughterhouse-five-by-kurt-vonnegut-this-book/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [Tomorrow is a satire on today, And shows its weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/tomorrow-is-a-satire-on-today-and-shows-its-weakness/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [When the Lilliputians first saw Gulliver's watch, that "wonderful kind of engine...a globe, half silver and half of some transparent metal," they identified it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/when-the-lilliputians-first-saw-gulliver-s-watch-that-wonderful-kind/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [“But this bus was a bit too full. The driver only appeared to control the glass and metal around him. In reality, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-spaid/but-this-bus-was-a-bit-too-full-the-driver-only-appeared-to-control/) [Graham Spaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-spaid/) > [“We were putting into these gomers our fear of death, but who knew if they feared death? Perhaps they welcomed death like a dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-shem/we-were-putting-into-these-gomers-our-fear-of-death-but-who-knew-if/) [Samuel Shem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-shem/) > [Satire is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time, the public, the reviewers will allow you to satirize it. Which is rather ridiculous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/satire-is-tragedy-plus-time-you-give-it-enough-time-the-public-the/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) > [“Behind every preventable threat to the future of the human race lurks a boy in a man's body with both hands buried deep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-prokop/behind-every-preventable-threat-to-the-future-of-the-human-race-lurks/) [Daniel Prokop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-prokop/) > [“Jason Mashak’s SALTY AS A LIP is grounded in a voice patiently bridging the “steeples and ‘scrapers” of an inquisitive mind. The poems are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ragan/jason-mashak-s-salty-as-a-lip-is-grounded-in-a-voice-patiently/) James Ragan > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [In general satire, every man perceives A slight attack, yet neither fears nor grieves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/in-general-satire-every-man-perceives-a-slight-attack-yet-neither/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Satire must always accompany any free society. It is an absolute necessity. Even in the most repressive medieval kingdoms, they understood the need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-randazzo/satire-must-always-accompany-any-free-society-it-is-an-absolute/) Joe Randazzo > [“BOLLOXIMIAN: My pleasures for new cunts I will uphold, And have reserves of kindness for the old. I grant in absence dildo may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/bolloximian-my-pleasures-for-new-cunts-i-will-uphold-and-have/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“Oh, I don’t mean to infer that you’re not a great guy. I’m sure you’re the exception to the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-frances/oh-i-don-t-mean-to-infer-that-you-re-not-a-great-guy-i-m-sure-you-re/) Jaye Frances > [Satire that the censor understands is rightly censored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/satire-that-the-censor-understands-is-rightly-censored/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) [Browse all 968 Satire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Swift" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Satire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/jonathan-swift-433_satire_satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-behold_82817.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.” — Jonathan Swift", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Swift", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Satire is a sort of glass,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```