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For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.

Jonathan Swift

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Jonathan Swift
Age: 77 †
Born: 1667
Born: November 30
Died: 1745
Died: October 19
Essayist
Human Rights Activist
Novelist
Opinion Journalist
Pamphleteer
Philosopher
Poet
Priest
Prosaist
Public Figure
Dublin city
Isaac Bickerstaff
M. B. Drapier
Lemuel Gulliver
Simon Wagstaff
Slavery
Government
Reason
Without
Governed
Consent
Definition
Definitions

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And he gave it for his opinion, that 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.
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The affectation of some late authors to introduce and multiply cant words is the most ruinous corruption in any language.
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Lord, Madame, I have fed like a farmer I shall grow as fat as a porpoise.
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In all I wish, how happy should I be, Thou grand Deluder, were it not for thee? So weak thou art that fools thy power despise And yet so strong, thou triumph'st o'er the wise.
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The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
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Principally I hate and detest that animal called man although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth.
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War: that mad game the world so loves to play.
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What poet would not grieve to see His brother write as well as he? But rather than they should excel, He'd wish his rivals all in Hell.
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The example alone of a vicious prince will corrupt an age but that of a good one will not reform it.
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It is with wits as with razors, which are never so apt to cut those they are employed on as when they have lost their edge.
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Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.
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Two women seldom grow intimate but at the expense of a third person.
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He was a fiddler, and consequently a rogue.
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Modesty may make a fool seem a man of sense.
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Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry Talent of a Prude, She trembled when a Man drew near Salute her, and she turn'd her Ear: If o'er against her you were plac'd She durst not look above your Waist
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I forget whether advice be among the lost things which Ariosto says are to be found in the moon: that and time ought to have been there.
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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.
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Two friendships in two breasts requires The same aversions and desires.
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Fine words! I wonder where you stole them.
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They say fish should swim thrice * * * first it should swim in the sea (do you mind me?) then it should swim in butter, and at last, sirrah, it should swim in good claret.
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