There seems to be no part of knowledge in fewer hands than that of discerning when to have done. Jonathan Swift More Quotes by Jonathan Swift More Quotes From Jonathan Swift Though Diogenes lived in a tub, there might be, for aught I know, as much pride under his rags, as in the fine-spun garments of the divine Plato. Jonathan Swift pride plato might A carpenter is known by his chips. Jonathan Swift wisdom identity wise hoever wishes to win in this game must have patience and money, since the values are so little constant and the rumors so little founded on truth Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. Jonathan Swift money winning art The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome. Jonathan Swift belief overcoming believe Neither is it safe to count upon the weakness of any man's understanding, who is thoroughly possessed of the spirit of revenge to sharpen his invention. Jonathan Swift understanding revenge men Rhetoric in serious discourses is like the flowers in corn; pleasing to those who come only for amusement, but prejudicial to him who would reap profit from it. Jonathan Swift amusement corn flower My father had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third of five Sons. Jonathan Swift father book son A true critic, in the perusal of a book, is like a dog at a feast, whose thoughts and stomach are wholly set upon what the guests fling away, and consequently is apt to snarl most when there are the fewest bones. Jonathan Swift guests dog book Had Windham possessed discretion in debate, or Sheridan in conduct, they might have ruled their age. Jonathan Swift debate age might There is no talent so useful toward rising in the world, or which puts men more out of the reach of fortune, than that quality generally possessed by the dullest sort of men, and in common speech called discretion; a species of lower prudence, by the assistance of which, people of the meanest intellectuals, without any other qualification, pass through the world in great tranquillity, and with universal good treatment, neither giving nor taking offence. Jonathan Swift giving men people I am convinced that if the virtuosi could once find out a world in the moon, with a passage to it, our women would wear nothing but what directly came from thence. Jonathan Swift passages moon world For poetry, he's past his prime, Jonathan Swift fire men past The ruin of a State is generally preceded by an universal degeneracy of manners and contempt of religion. Jonathan Swift ruins states manners For, if we take an examination of what is generally understood by happiness, as it has respect either to the understanding or the senses, we shall find all its properties and adjuncts will herd under this short definition: that it is a perpetual possession of being well deceived. Jonathan Swift deceived possession happiness The scholars of Ireland seem not to have the least conception of style, but run on in a flat phraseology, often mingled with barbarous terms. Jonathan Swift style term running From not the gravest of Divines, Jonathan Swift lines serious poetry For want of a block, man will stumble at a straw. Jonathan Swift block trying men Your notions of friendship are new to me; I believe every man is born with his quantum, and he cannot give to one without robbing another. I very well know to whom I would give the first place in my friendship, but they are not in the way, I am condemned to another scene, and therefore I distribute it in pennyworths to those about me, and who displease me least, and should do the same to my fellow prisoners if I were condemned to a jail. Jonathan Swift friends men believe Dignity, high station, or great riches, are in some sort necessary to old men, in order to keep the younger at a distance, who are otherwise too apt to insult them upon the score of their age. Jonathan Swift distance men order But you think that it is time for me to have done with the world, and so I would if I could get into a better before I was called into the best, and not die here in a rage, like a poisoned rat in a hole. Jonathan Swift self-improvement time thinking
