Jonathan Swift Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Jonathan Swift quotes, Jonathan Swift sayings, and Jonathan Swift proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Beauty, like supreme dominion is best supported by opinion. Jonathan Swift
It is the folly of too many to mistake the echo of a London coffee-house for the voice of the kingdom. Jonathan Swift
One of the very best rules of conversation is to never, say anything which any of the company wish had been left unsaid. Jonathan Swift
I used to wonder how a man of birth and spirit could endure to be wholly insignificant and obscure in a foreign country, when he might live with lustre in his own. Jonathan Swift
Pretense is the overrating of any kind of knowledge we pretend to. Jonathan Swift
Venus, a beautiful, good-natured lady, was the goddess of love. Jonathan Swift
When we are old, our friends find it difficult to please us, and are less concerned whether we be pleased or not. Jonathan Swift
If a proud man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is that he keeps his at the same time. Jonathan Swift
But gold defiles with frequent touch / There's nothing fouls the hand so much / And scholars give it for the cause / Of British Midas' dirty paws. Jonathan Swift
Midas, we are in story told / Turn'd every thing he touch'd to gold / He chipp'd his bread; the pieces round / Glitter'd like spangles on the ground. Jonathan Swift
Old hay is equal to old gold / And hence a critic deep maintains / We learn'd to weigh our gold by grains. Jonathan Swift
Every man desires to live long, but no man would to be old. Jonathan Swift
For want of room by Virgo's side, she'll strain a point, and sit astride, to take thee kindly in between; and then the signs will be thirteen. Jonathan Swift
He at fit periods walk through Aries, however our earthly motions varies. Jonathan Swift
Or darns his hose, or mends his breeches, While Harry's fencing up his ditches. Jonathan Swift
I have heard of a man who had a mind to sell his house, and therefore carried a piece of brick in his pocket, which he showed as a pattern to encourage purchasers. Jonathan Swift
The more careless, the more modish. Jonathan Swift
One of the best rules of conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid. Jonathan Swift
No length of time can make you quit / Honour and virtue, sense and wit, / Thus you may still be young to me, / While I can better hear than see; / Oh, ne'er may fortune show her spite, / To make me deaf, and mend my sight. Jonathan Swift
A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart. Jonathan Swift
No length of time can make you quit, / Honour and virtue, sense and wit, / Thus you may still be young to me, / While I can better hear than see; / Oh, ne'er may fortune show her spite, / To make me deaf, and mend my sight. Jonathan Swift
All's well, what's a rainy day? / Never mind that cloud, behind that cloud you'll find a golden ray. Jonathan Swift
Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken. Jonathan Swift
Every man desires to live long, but no man would be old. Jonathan Swift
Human brutes, like other beasts, find snares and poison in the provision of life and are allured by their appetites to their destruction. Jonathan Swift
Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem. Jonathan Swift
Our passion are like convulsion fits, which, though they make us stronger for the time, leave us the weaker ever after. Jonathan Swift
For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery. Jonathan Swift
Mere rhetoric in serious discourses, is like flowers in corn, pleasing to those who look only for amusement, but prejudicial to him who would reap profit from it. Jonathan Swift
Style may be defined, 'proper words in proper places.' Jonathan Swift