Jonathan Swift

Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent.

Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent.

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.

In all distresses of our friends
We first consult our private ends;
While Nature, kindly bent to read more

In all distresses of our friends
We first consult our private ends;
While Nature, kindly bent to ease us,
Points out some circumstance to please us.

So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still read more

So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite 'em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.
Thus every poet in his kind
Is bit by him that comes behind.

Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem

Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem