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
against appears dunces genius true
When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
genius prodigies last-words
Ah, a German and a genius ! A prodigy, admit him !
men age genius
There never appear more than five or six men of genius in an age, but if they were united the world could not stand before them.
men facts genius
When a man of genius appears in the world, it is immediately recognized by the fact that all the blockheads join forces against him.
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.
blades country deserves ears essential grass grew grow race service together whoever
Whoever makes two ears of corn, or two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before, deserves better of mankind, and does more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together
belly bones rest
When the belly is full, the bones would be at rest
bit food maxim men tis
Tis an old maxim in the schools, That flattery's the food of fools; Yet now and then your men of wit, Will condescend to take a bit
abroad bred company returned traveler worst
Usually speaking, the worst bred person in company is a young traveler just returned from abroad
afterwards begun continues less treatment
When the world has once begun to use us ill, it afterwards continues the same treatment with less scruple or ceremony, as men do to a whore
coffee philosophical espresso
Coffee makes us severe, and grave and philosophical.
block men want
Small causes are sufficient to make a man uneasy, when great ones are not in the way: for want of a block he will stumble at a straw.
comfort keeps man proud time
If a proud man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is that he keeps his at the same time
belief cannot concealed defect ought
The want of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.