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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.

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
Strong
Triumph
Art
Thou
Power
Thee
Life
Weak
Fool
Wise
Fools
Happy
Despise
Wish
Grand

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I cannot imagine why we should be at the expense to furnish wit for succeeding ages, when the former have made no sort of provision for ours.
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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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There is nothing in this world constant, but inconstancy.
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What they do in heaven we are ignorant of what they do not do we are told expressly.
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Polite Conversation Why, everyone one as they like as the good woman said when she kissed her cow.
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The tucked-up sempstress walks with hasty strides, While streams run down her oil'd umbrella's sides.
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Fine words! I wonder where you stole them.
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Interest is the spur of the people, but glory that of great souls. Invention is the talent of youth, and judgment of age.
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Few are qualified to shine in company, but it is in most men's power to be agreeable.
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I would rather be a freeman among slaves than a slave among freemen.
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The first springs of great events, like those of great rivers, are often mean and little.
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A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest with Greek he over-run ye, Procure the book for love or money, Translated from Boileau's translation, And quote quotation on quotation.
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The tiny Lilliputians surmise that Gulliver's watch may be his god, because it is that which, he admits, he seldom does anything without consulting.
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May you live all the days of your life.
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Men are happy to be laughed at for their humor, but not for their folly.
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The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without it. While you continue to be splenetic, count upon it I will always preach. Thus much I sympathize with you that I am not cheerful enough to write, for I believe Coffee once a week is necessary to that.
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If a man would register all his opinions upon love, politics, religion, learning etc., beginning from his youth, and so go to old age, what a bundle of inconsistencies and contradictions would appear at last.
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Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe, how much it altered her person for the worse.
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Faith, that's as well said as if I had said it myself.
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Fools are apt to imitate only the defects of their betters.
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