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
judging age literature
Invention is the talent of youth, as judgment is of age.
blessed blessing power
Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent.
children food years
I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.
world this-world inconstancy
There is nothing in this world constant, but inconstancy.
strength men knowing
Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of.
education teacher children
Don't set your wit against a child.
inspirational success wise
A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.
mistake literature
There are few, very few, that will own themselves in a mistake.
wind understanding
Words are but wind; and learning is nothing but words; ergo, learning is nothing but wind.
prayer heaven devotion
Complaint is the largest tribute heaven receives and the sincerest part of our devotion.
wish conversation unsaid
And surely one of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid…
justice decision special
It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before, may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind.
tongue teeth littles
I'm as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth.
pride proud poverty
Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.