Jonathan Swift was a keen observer of the society of his day and how the different classes inter-acted. His background was middle class. His education and his position in the church meant he could mix with the rich and powerful, but he was never one of them.
His sympathy often lay with the disadvantaged and downtrodden, and his most scathing quotes were often reserved for those who, although wealthy of supposed good breeding, he regarded as stupid, vulgar and vain.
A footman may swear; but he cannot swear like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal delicacy, propriety, and judgment?
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It is a maxim, that those to whom everybody allows the second place have an undoubted title to the first.
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Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent.
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Faith! He must make his stories shorter or change his comrades once a quarter.
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A set of phrases learnt by rote;
A passion for a scarlet coat;
When at a play to laugh, or cry,
Yet cannot tell the reason why:
Never to hold her tongue a minute;
While all she prates has nothing in it.
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I remember it was with extreme difficulty that I could bring my master to understand the meaning of the word opinion, or how a point could be disputable; because reason taught us to affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our knowledge we cannot do either.
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I replied that England (the dear place of my nativity) was computed to produce three times the quantity of food, more than its inhabitants are able to consume.
But, in order to feed the luxury and intemperance of the males, and the vanity of the females, we sent away the greatest part of our necessary things to other countries, from whence in return we brought the materials of diseases, folly, and vice, to spend among ourselves.
Hence it follows of necessity that vast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, pimping, forswearing, flattering, suborning, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, scribbling, freethinking.
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There was all the world and his wife.
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This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavour to do himself honour among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him.
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