The quotations of

Jonathan Swift

Anglo-Irish satirist and essayist

1667–1745

36 quotes, most often on Clever Jabs, Laws and Comedy. Part of the Writers collection.

Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps as 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.
Thoughts on Various Subjects from Miscellanies (1711-1726)
- Character
For, in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery: but in fact, eleven men well armed will certainly subdue one single man in his shirt.
The Drapier’s Letters, letter iv (13 October, 1724)
- Government
- Power
Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired.
Letter to a Young Clergyman (January 9, 1720), on proving Christianity to unbelievers
- Debate
- Thinking
Proper words in proper places, make the true definition of a style.
Letter to a Young Clergyman (January 9, 1720)
- Writing
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.
Thoughts on Various Subjects from Miscellanies (1711-1726)
- Good & Evil
- Morality
It is computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part I: A Voyage to Lilliput, Chapter IVIn context
- Comedy
- War & Peace
Of so little weight are the greatest services to princes, when put into the balance with a refusal to gratify their passions.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part I: A Voyage to Lilliput, Chapter VIn context
- Power
You have clearly proved, that ignorance, idleness, and vice, are the proper ingredients for qualifying a legislator; that laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied, by those whose interest and abilities lie in perverting, confounding, and eluding them.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag, Chapter VIIn context
I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag, Chapter VIIn context
- Clever Jabs
Whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag, Chapter VIIIn context
- Politics
- Work
I said the thing which was not;” for they have no word in their language to express lying or falsehood.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter IIIIn context
- Truth & Lies
Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter VIn context
- Pride
- War & Peace
A soldier is a Yahoo hired to kill, in cold blood, as many of his own species, who have never offended him, as possibly he can.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter VIn context
- War & Peace
There was a society of men among us, bred up from their youth in the art of proving, by words multiplied for the purpose, that white is black, and black is white, according as they are paid.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter VIn context
It is a maxim among these lawyers that whatever has 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. These, under the name of precedents, they produce as authorities to justify the most iniquitous opinions; and the judges never fail of directing accordingly.
Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter VIn context
- Justice
- Laws

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