662 Quotes by Jonathan Swift

Arbitrary power is the natural object of temptation to a prince, as wine and women to a young fellow, or a bribe to a judge, or avarice to old age...

The motives of the best actions will not bear too strict an inquiry. It is allowed that the cause of most actions, good or bad, may be resolved into the love of ourselves; but the self-love of some men inclines them to please others, and the self-love of others is wholly employed in pleasing themselves. This makes the great distinction between virtue and vice.

It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before, may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind.

My hunger serves me instead of a clock.

The system of morality to be gathered from the ancient sages falls very short of that delivered in the gospel.

The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman.

God hath intended our passions to prevail over reason.

Ever eating, never cloying, All-devouring, all-destroying Never finding full repast, Till I eat the world at last.

The example alone of a vicious prince will corrupt an age; but that of a good one will not reform it.