The Wit of Jonathan Swift
On Drink:
“A tavern (pub) is a place where they sell madness by the bottle”
On Politics:
“Never remark that the air in Ireland is healthy and excellent or they will most certainly tax it”
&
“All Political parties die of swallowing their own lies”
&
“Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent.”
On Attraction:
“Under an oak in stormy weather;
I joined this rogue and whore together;
And none but he who rules the thunder
Can pull this rogue and whore asunder”
On Food:
“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.”
On Law:
“Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.”
On Genius:
“When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.”
