Jonathan Swift Quotes - Page 18

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It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.

It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.

Jonathan Swift

Ignorance, Giving, Together

Abstracts, abridgments, summaries, etc., have the same use with burning-glasses,--to collect the diffused light rays of wit and learning in authors, and make them point with warmth and quickness upon the reader's imagination.

Jonathan Swift

Glasses, Light, Imagination

111 company is like a dog, who dirts those most whom he loves best.

Jonathan Swift

Dog, Love Is, Dirt

Jonathan Swift (1768). “The works of Dr. Jonathan Swift ...: With the author's life and character; notes, historical, critical, and explanatory; tables of contents, and indexes. More complete than any preceding edition ... Accurately corrected by the best editions”, p.361

The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.

Jonathan Swift

Believe, Overcoming, Belief

Lose no time to contradict her, Nor endeavor to convict her; Only take this rule along, Always to advise her wrong, And reprove her when she's right; She may then grow wise for spite.

Jonathan Swift

Wise, Wisdom, May

Jonathan Swift (1860). “The Works of Jonathan Swift ...: With Copious Notes and Additions, and a Memoir of the Author”, p.444

My Lawyer being practiced almost from his Cradle in defending Falsehood; is quite out of his Element when he would be an Advocate for Justice, which as an Office unnatural, he always attempts with great Awkwardness if not with Ill-will.

Jonathan Swift

Ill Will, Justice, Office

For poetry, he's past his prime, He takes an hour to find a rhyme; His fire is out, his wit decayed, His fancy sunk, his muse a jade. I'd have him throw away his pen, But there's no talking to some men.

Jonathan Swift

Past, Men, Fire

Matthew Prior, Jonathan Swift (1853). “Select poems of Prior and Swift [ed. by C. Bathurst].”, p.155