There is no vice or folly that requires so much nicety and skill to manage as vanity; nor any which by ill management makes so contemptible a figure.
—Jonathan Swift
Style may be defined, “proper words in proper places.”
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Style
No wise man ever wished to be younger.
—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
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
The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman.
—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
Promises and Pye-Crusts, are made to be broken.
—Jonathan Swift
If a proud man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is that he keeps his at the same time.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Pride
A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Wisdom, Money
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as in books it is generally the worst sort of reading.
—Jonathan Swift
Topics: Argument, One liners
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
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, Old Age, Age
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