Quote

It is a maxim, that those, to whom everybody allows the second place, have an undoubted title to the first.

Jonathan Swift

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Allows
Second
Everybody
Class
Undoubted
Place
Maxim
Firsts
Maxims
First
Title
Titles

More quotes by Jonathan Swift

Image
In men desire begets love, and in women love begets desire.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Nor do they trust their tongue alone, but speak a language of their own can read a nod, a shrug, a look, far better than a printed book convey a libel in a frown, and wink a reputation down.
Jonathan Swift
Image
The first springs of great events, like those of great rivers, are often mean and little.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Hail fellow, well met.
Jonathan Swift
Image
He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Everyone desires long life, not one old age.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Books, the children of the brain.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Men of great parts are often unfortunate in the management of public business, because they are apt to go out of the common road by the quickness of their imagination.
Jonathan Swift
Image
You should never be ashamed to admit you have been wrong. It only proves you are wiser today than yesterday
Jonathan Swift
Image
Fond of those hives where folly reigns, And cards and scandal are the chains, Where the pert virgin slights a name, And scorns to redden into shame.
Jonathan Swift
Image
The proper words in the proper places are the true definition of style.
Jonathan Swift
Image
In oratory the greatest art is to hide art.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Fools are apt to imitate only the defects of their betters.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Vision is the Art of seeing Things invisible.
Jonathan Swift
Image
No man was ever so completely skilled in the conduct of life, as not to receive new information from age and experience.
Jonathan Swift
Image
For to enter the palace of learning at the great gate requires an expense of time and forms, therefore men of much haste and little ceremony are content to get in by the back-door
Jonathan Swift
Image
I would rather be a freeman among slaves than a slave among freemen.
Jonathan Swift
Image
I hate nobody: I am in charity with the world.
Jonathan Swift
Image
Rebukes are easy from our betters, From men of quality and letters But when low dunces will affront, What man alive can stand the brunt?
Jonathan Swift
Image
If the world had but a dozen Arbuthnots in it, I would burn my Travels.
Jonathan Swift