Jonathan Swift: Doing

Jonathan Swift was Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, and poet. Explore interesting quotes on doing.

Jonathan Swift: 282 quotes6 likes

“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.”

Jonathan Swift book The Battle of the Books

The Battle of the Books, preface (1704)

“As boys do sparrows, with flinging salt upon their tails.”

Jonathan Swift book A Tale of a Tub

Sect. 7
A Tale of a Tub (1704)

“Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind reception it meets with in the world, and that so very few are offended with it.”

Jonathan Swift The Battle of the Books and Other Short Pieces

Source: The Battle of the Books and Other Short Pieces

“This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavor to do himself honor among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him.”

Jonathan Swift book Les Voyages de Gulliver

Source: Gulliver's Travels

“And he gave it for his opinion, that whosoever 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.”

Jonathan Swift book Les Voyages de Gulliver

Voyage to Brobdingnag, Ch. 7 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gulliver%27s_Travels/Part_II/Chapter_VII <br class="br">Gulliver's Travels (1726)

“…one enemy can do more hurt, than ten friends can do good.”

Journal to Stella (30 June, 1711)

“What they do in heaven we are ignorant of; what they do not we are told expressly: that they neither marry, nor are given in marriage.”

Thoughts on Various Subjects from Miscellanies (1711-1726)

“Do you think I was born in a wood to be afraid of an owl?”

Polite Conversation (1738), Dialogue 1

“Ambition often puts men upon doing the meanest offices; so climbing is performed in the same posture with creeping.”

Thoughts on Various Subjects from Miscellanies (1711-1726)