1667-1745, Anglo-Irish Satirist
No wise man ever wished to be younger.
Jonathan Swift – [Age and Aging]
Nor do they trust their tongue alone, but speak a language of their own; can read a nod, a shrug, a look, far better than a printed book; convey a libel in a frown, and wink a reputation down.
Jonathan Swift – [Scandal]
Nothing is so great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; If you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest.
Jonathan Swift – [Manners]
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches to conceive how others can be in want.
Jonathan Swift – [Charity]
O Grub Street! how do I bemoan thee, whose graceless children scorn to own thee! . Yet thou hast greater cause to be ashamed of them, than they of thee.
Jonathan Swift – [Writers and Writing]
Observation is an old man's memory.
Jonathan Swift – [Memory]
One enemy can do more hurt than ten friends can do good.
Jonathan Swift – [Enemies]
One of the very best rules of conversation is to never, say anything which any of the company wish had been left unsaid.
Jonathan Swift – [Conversation]
Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.
Jonathan Swift – [Nations]
Positiveness is a good quality for preachers and speakers because, whoever shares his thoughts with the public will convince them as he himself appears convinced.
Jonathan Swift – [Optimism]
Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent.
Jonathan Swift – [Power]
Pretense is the overrating of any kind of knowledge we pretend to.
Jonathan Swift – [Exaggeration]
Promises and pie crusts are made to be broken.
Jonathan Swift – [Promises]
Reason is a very light rider, and easily shook off.
Jonathan Swift – [Reason]
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 of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it.
Jonathan Swift – [Sarcasm]
She wears her clothes as if they were thrown on with a pitch folk.
Jonathan Swift – [Dress]
Style may defined as the proper words in the proper places.
Jonathan Swift – [Writers and Writing]
The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman.
Jonathan Swift – [Doctors]
The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.
Jonathan Swift – [Belief]
The latter part of a wise person's life is occupied with curing the follies, prejudices and false opinions they contracted earlier.
Jonathan Swift – [Age and Aging]
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