Quotes from Jonathan Swift

Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right, when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison. It

The reader may remember, that when I signed those articles upon which I recovered my liberty, there were some which I disliked, upon account of their being too servile; neither

My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory. The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate

Phantasie ist die Gabe, unsichtbare Dinge zu sehen.

A sort of animals, to whose share, [...] some small pittance of reason had fallen, whereof we made no other use, than to aggravate our natural corruptions, and to acquire new ones, which nature had not given us; that we disarmed ourselves of the few abilities she had bestowed; hand been very successful in multiplying our wants, and seemed to spent our whole lives in vain endeavors to supply them by our own inventions.

The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility, comes to see the author in his confinement. The emperor's person and habit described. Learned men appointed to teach the author their language. He gains favour by his mild disposition. His pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him.

I should perhaps like others have astonished you with strange improbable tales; but I rather chose to relate plain matter of fact in the simplest manner and style; because my principal design was to inform you, and not to amuse you.

leagues, till we were able to work no longer, being already spent with labour while we were in the ship. 

La Naturaleza se satisface con muy poco y que la necesidad es madre de la invención.

the thirst I had of seeing the world, notwithstanding my past misfortunes, continuing as violent as ever.

Meu amo não podia compreender como toda essa raça de patrícios era tão malevolente e tão terrível.

His features are strong and masculine, with an Austrian lip and arched nose, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his deportment majestic. He

No se concibe que una criatura racional pueda ser obligada, sino aconsejada o exhortada, porque nadie puede desobedecer la razón sin renunciar al derecho de ser considerado una criatura racional.

So, naturalists observe, a flea hath smaller fleas that on him prey; and these have smaller still to bite 'em; and so proceed ad infinitum.

However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to them.

I slept about eight hours, as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine.

The chains that held my left leg were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple.

My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of five sons.

beholders. His features are strong and masculine, with an Austrian lip and arched nose, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his deportment majestic.

frequently exercised in my sight, to accustom themselves to me.

Tata krama adalah seni untuk membuat orang merasa tidak canggung bercakap-cakap dengan kita.

How Peter, enraged at the loss of such large territories, and consequently of so much revenue, thundered against Martin

Caesar freely confessed to me, that the greatest actions of his own life were not equal, by many degrees, to the glory of taking it away.

When a man's fancy gets astride on his reason, when imagination is at cuffs with the senses, and common understanding as well as common sense, is kicked out of doors; the first proselyte he makes is himself.