I agree with Sir William Temple, that the word humour is peculiar to our English tongue; but not that the thing itself is peculiar to the English, because the contrary may be found in many Spanish, Italian, and French productions.
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Citations by Jonathan Swift
Men always grow vicious before they become unbelievers; but if you would once convince profligates by topics drawn from the view of their own quiet, reputation, and health, their infidelity would soon drop off.
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Our love of God will inspire us with a detestation for sin, as what is of all things most contrary to his divine nature.
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A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.
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in Quotes & Aphorisms (Wisdom)
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.
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Our grandchildren will see a few rags hung up in Westminster Hall which cost an hundred millions, whereof they are paying the arrears, and boast that their grandfathers were rich and great.
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in Quotes & Aphorisms (Books)
The collectors only consider, the greater fame a writer is in possession of, the more trash he may bear to have tacked to him.
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The most plain, short, and lawful way to any good end is more eligible than one directly contrary in some or all of these qualities.
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in Quotes & Aphorisms (Wisdom)
If you will not care to settle our language and put it into a state of continuance, your memory shall not be preserved above an hundred years, further than by imperfect tradition.
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As boys do sparrows, with flinging salt upon their tails.
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