The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, Volume 16

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J. Johnson, J. Nichols, R. Baldwin, Otridge and Son, J. Sewell, F. and C. Rivington, T. Payne, R. Faulder, G. and J. Robinson, R. Lea, J. Nunn, W. Cuthell, T. Egerton, ... [and 12 others], 1801

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Page 148 - I directly advise you to go upon the road, which is the only post of honour left you : there you will meet many of your old comrades, and live a short life and a merry one, and make a figure at your exit, wherein I will give you some instructions.
Page 326 - Not to tell the same story over and over to the same people. Not to be covetous. Not to neglect decency, or cleanliness, for fear of falling into nastiness.
Page 320 - He said, that the difference betwixt a mad-man and one in his wits, in what related to speech, consisted in this : That the former spoke out whatever came into his mind, and just in the confused manner as his imagination presented the ideas. The latter only expressed such thoughts, as his judgment directed him to chuse, leaving the rest to die away in his memory. And that if the wisest man would at any time utter his thoughts, in the crude indigested manner, as they come into his head, he would be...
Page 325 - Of arguers, perpetual contradictors, long talkers, those who are absent in company, interrupters, not listeners, loud laughers. Of those men and women whose face is ever in a smile, talk ever with a smile, condole with a smile, &c. Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation; as it is generally in books the worst sort of reading.
Page 346 - ... next, as to the style; that he affects the use of French words, as well as some turns of expression peculiar to that language* I believe, those who make the former criticism, do not well consider the nature of Memoirs. It is to the French (if I mistake not) we chiefly owe that manner of writing ; and Sir William Temple is not only the first, but, I think, the only Englishman (at least of any consequence) who ever attempted it.
Page 200 - I shall not often draw such long quotations as this, which I could not forbear to offer as a specimen of the propriety and perspicuity .of this author's style. And indeed, what a light...
Page 256 - But none of these defects derive contempt to the speaker : whereas, what we call the Irish brogue is no sooner discovered, than it makes the deliverer in the last degree ridiculous and despised ; and, from such a mouth, an Englishman expects nothing but bulls, blunders, and follies.
Page 352 - It is generally believed that this author has advanced our English tongue to as great a perfection as it can well bear...
Page 323 - Nothing is so great an instance of ill manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none : if you flatter only one or two, you affront the rest.
Page 327 - To desire some good friends to inform me which. of these resolutions I break or neglect, and wherein ; and reform accordingly. Not to talk much, nor of myself. Not to boast of my former beauty, or strength, or favour with ladies, &c.

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