Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swiftwas an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet and cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth30 November 1667
CountryIreland
wise lying men
Let a man be ne'er so wise, he may be caught with sober lies.
wise people solitude
Wise people are never less alone than when they are alone.
running book greek
A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest with Greek he over-run ye, Procure the book for love or money, Translated from Boileau's translation, And quote quotation on quotation.
real genius world
When a real genius appeares in this world, you'll know him by the fact that all the fools have allied against him.
running talent human-nature
It is the talent of human nature to run from one extreme to another.
believe overcoming belief
The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.
men hands abuse
When any one person or body of men seize into their hands the power in the last resort, there is properly no longer a government, but what Aristotle and his followers call the abuse and corruption of one.
animal air tongue
The chameleon, who is said to feed upon nothing but air, has of all animals the nimblest tongue.
men firsts oratory
It is the first rule in oratory that a man must appear such as he would persuade others to be: and that can be accomplished only by the force of his life.
men talking beast
There are few wild beasts more to be dreaded than a talking man having nothing to say.
best company conversation left rules wish
One of the very best rules of conversation is to never, say anything which any of the company wish had been left unsaid.
wise science astrology
All Pretences of foretelling by Astrology, are Deceits; for this manifest Reason, because the Wise and Learned, who can only judge whether there be any Truth in this Science, do all unanimously agree to laugh at and despise it; and none but the poor ignorant Vulgar give it any Credit.
war differences long
Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long continuance as those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things indifferent.
wise crowns sovereign
A prince, the moment he is crown'd, Inherits every virtue sound, As emblems of the sovereign power, Like other baubles in the Tower: Is generous, valiant, just, and wise, And so continues till he dies.