100+ Insightful Quotes from Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels,” originally published in 1726, is a landmark in English literature, celebrated for its sharp satire and profound social critique. This imaginative narrative chronicles the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, whose remarkable journeys to fantastical realms reveal the absurdities and shortcomings of humanity through a clever and incisive lens. Each tale unfolds layers of meaning and invites readers to reflect on the intricacies of human nature, politics, and society.
For those in search of inspiration and deeper understanding, “Gulliver’s Travels” provides an abundance of quotes that illuminate the complexities of the human experience with unmatched clarity. Whether you are looking for motivational insights or profound reflections on life, Swift’s timeless prose offers a wealth of wisdom. Join us as we dive into some of the most memorable and enduring quotes from “Gulliver’s Travels,” revealing insights that remain relevant and thought-provoking even in contemporary times.
- “Undoubtedly, philosophers are in the right when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison.”
- “Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.”
- “The tiny Lilliputians surmise that Gulliver’s watch may be his god, as it is that which he admits he seldom does anything without consulting.”
- “This made me reflect on how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavor to do himself honor among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him.”
- “Ingratitude is amongst them a capital crime, as we read it to have been in some other countries; they reason thus: that whoever makes ill returns to his benefactor must be a common enemy to the rest of mankind.”
- “They regard fraud as a greater crime than theft, and therefore seldom fail to punish it with death.”
- “I enjoyed perfect health of body and tranquility of mind; I did not feel the treachery or inconstancy of a friend, nor the injuries of a secret or open enemy.”
- “Of so little weight are the greatest services to princes when put into the balance with a refusal to gratify their passions.”
- “In my hours of leisure, I devoted myself to reading the best authors, both ancient and modern, ensuring I was always equipped with a good selection of books.”
- “They have a notion that a brief silence among people improves conversation significantly.”
- “Differing opinions have cost many millions of lives; for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh.”
- “Men are never so serious, thoughtful, and intent as when they are at stool.”
- “I could not help but marvel at the bravery of these diminutive mortals.”
- “The cottagers and laborers retain their children at home, as their only business is to till and cultivate the earth.”
- “These dreadful creatures had the audacity to attack me from both sides.”
- “Many extensive volumes have been published on this controversy.”
- “When a significant office is vacant, either by death or disgrace, five or six candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and court with a dance on the rope.”
- “The various nations of the world possess distinct customs.”
- “They place more importance on good morals than on great abilities; since government is essential to mankind, they believe that the average human understanding is suited to some station or another.”
- “Laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied by those whose interests and abilities lie in perverting, confusing, and evading them.”
- “For instance, a crew of pirates is driven by a storm to an uncertain destination.”
- “A wife should consistently be a reasonable and agreeable companion, as she cannot always be young.”
- “This made me reflect on how futile it is for a man to seek honor among those who are entirely unequal to him.”
- “Fraud is considered a more serious offense than theft and is therefore often punished with death.”
- “Based on what I have gathered from your account, I cannot help but conclude that the bulk of your natives are the most pernicious race of loathsome vermin.”
- “His majesty, in another audience, took the trouble to summarize all that I had spoken.”
- “Whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, grow on a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve more of mankind and provide more essential service to his country than all the politicians combined.”
- “The mildness of their demeanor and countenance, which is so agreeable to others, arises from their good nature and humanity.”
- “Human beings are observed to be more savage and cruel in proportion to their size.”
- “Upon arriving at my own house, which I had to inquire about, one of the servants opened the door, and I bent down to enter.”
- “The longer I resided in this country, the less curious I became about the customs and laws of the inhabitants.”
- “The moral of my own behavior has been frequently on my mind since my return to England.”
- “Instead of being disheartened by obstacles, they become more determined to pursue their ambitions.”
- “They are equally driven by hope and despair.”
- “They believe that the average human understanding is suitable for some role or another.”
- “They prioritize their own comfort and laziness above the general advancement of their country.”
- “The majority of your natives represent the most harmful species of despicable vermin that nature has ever allowed to crawl upon the earth’s surface.”
- “They are a modern colony sent to convert and civilize idolatrous and barbaric people.”
- “No one can disobey reason without relinquishing their claim to be a rational being.”
