Jonathan Swift People Quotations

There is no talent so useful toward rising in the world, or which puts men more out of the reach of fortune, than that quality generally possessed by the dullest sort of men, and in common speech called discretion; a species of lower prudence, by the assistance of which, people of the meanest intellectuals, without any other qualification, pass through the world in great tranquillity, and with universal good treatment, neither giving nor taking offence.

Wise people are never less alone than when they are alone.

The worthiest people are the most injured by slander, as is the best fruit which the birds have been pecking at.

Good manners is the art of making those people easy with whom we converse. Whoever makes the fewest people uneasy is the best bred in the room.

Cruel people are ever cowards in emergency.

Orators inflame the people, whose anger is really but a short fit of madness.

Interest is the spur of the people, but glory that of great souls. Invention is the talent of youth, and judgment of age.

No preacher is listened to but time, which gives us the same train and turn of thought that elder people have in vain tried to put into our heads before.

What some people invent the rest enlarge.

Whence proceeds this weight we lay On what detracting people say? Their utmost malice cannot make Your head, or tooth, or finger ache; Nor spoil your shapes, distort your face, Or put one feature out of place.