Jonathan Swift (1667–1745,) known as “Dean Swift,” was an Irish satirist, poet, and Anglican cleric. His work has not only been continuously in print, but also influenced writers as diverse as William Makepeace Thackeray and George Orwell.
Born in Dublin of English parents, Swift was educated at Kilkenny School and Trinity College, Dublin. He became secretary to the English statesman and essayist William Temple and took holy orders in 1695. Swift’s initial works include The Battle of the Books (1704,) and the witty and notorious A Tale of a Tub (1704,) which established Swift’s reputation.
Ordained an Anglican priest in 1694, Swift became Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, in 1713. There he wrote his best-known work, Gulliver’s Travels (1726,) a satire on human follies and social institutions in the form of a fantastic tale of travels in imaginary lands.
Swift also wrote many works condemning England’s treatment of Ireland, including A Modest Proposal (1729.) His notable poems include Verses on the Death of Dr Swift (1739,) in which he evaluates his life and his work with sarcastic detachment and the satirical On Poetry, a Rhapsody (1733.)
Swift is buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral; his famous epitaph reads “ubi saeva indignatio ulterius cor lacerare nequit” (“where fierce indignation cannot further tear apart the heart.”)
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The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman.
—Jonathan Swift
Style may be defined, “proper words in proper places.”
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Style
If a proud man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is that he keeps his at the same time.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Pride
Men are happy to be laughed at for their humor, but not for their folly.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Men
There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.
—Jonathan Swift
That was excellently observed, say I, when I read a passage in an author, where his opinion agrees with mine. When we differ, there I pronounce him to be mistaken.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Opinion
Promises and Pye-Crusts, are made to be broken.
—Jonathan Swift
It is in men as in soils where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of.
—Jonathan Swift
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as in books it is generally the worst sort of reading.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: One liners, Argument
An excuse is a lie guarded.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Courage
When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil’s leavings.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Virtue, Age, Old Age
No wise man ever wished to be younger.
—Jonathan Swift
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
—Jonathan Swift
A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Wisdom, Money
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