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Old men and comets have been reverenced for the same reason: their long beards, and pretences to foretell events.

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
Events
Age
Reverenced
Pretences
Reason
Foretell
Long
Beards
Men
Comets
Pretence
Beard

More quotes by Jonathan Swift

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Careful observers may foretell the hour (By sure prognostics) when to dread a show'r. While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o'er Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more.
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I can discover no political evil in suffering bullies, sharpers, and rakes, to rid the world of each other by a method of their own where the law hath not been able to find an expedient.
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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?
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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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Where I am not understood, it shall be concluded that something very useful and profound is couched underneath.
Jonathan Swift
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I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.
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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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A maxim in law has more weight in the world than an article of faith.
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All panegyrics are mingled with an infusion of poppy.
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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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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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Hail, follow, well met, All dirty and wet: Find out, if you can, Who's master, who's man.
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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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In like manner, the disbelief of a Divine Providence renders a man uncapable of holding any public station for, since kings avow themselves to be the deputies of Providence.
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The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.
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If a lump of soot falls into the soup and you cannot conveniently get it out, stir it well in and it will give the soup a French taste.
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In all distresses of our friends We first consult our private ends While Nature, kindly bent to ease us, Points out some circumstance to please us.
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Though fear should lend him pinions like the wind, yet swifter fate will seize him from behind.
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Under the rose, since here are none but friends, To own the truth we have some private ends.
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It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.
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