Jonathan Swift Quotes

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.

The bulk of mankind, even in those nations which are most celebrated for learning and wisdom, are still carried down the torrents of superstition, and entertain very unworthy apprehensions

They that will not be counseled, cannot be helped. If you do not hear reason she will rap you on the knuckles.

Man seems to insist on ignoring the lessons available from history.

It is the nature of every person to error, but only the fool perseveres in error.

There is hardly a man on earth who will take advice unless he is certain that it is positively bad.

Governments never learn. Only people learn.

A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.

Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.

Man is a recording animal.

The ancients called happy those who learned caution from the danger of others...as wax receives its impression from a seal, so the character of human life is shaped by example

Children are like men, the experience of others does not help them.

… no one can have lived in the world without observing that most people, when in prosperity, are so over-brimming with wisdom (however inexperienced they may be), that they take every offer of advice as a personal insult, whereas in adversity they know not where to turn, but beg and pray for counsel from every passer-by.

We are reassured almost as foolishly as we are alarmed; human nature is so constituted.

Youth doesn't take advice.

there are some people who never learn; indeed, few people learn by experience, so far as I have ever seen.

Of all the animals which fly in the air, walk on the land, or swim in the sea, from Paris to Peru, from Japan to Rome, the most foolish animal in my opinion is man.

Nobody ever learns anything.

Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young.

There is nothing to be learned from the second kick of a mule.

Woman's advice has little value, but he who won't take it is a fool.

That experience is the parent of wisdom is an adage the truth of which is recognized by the wisest as well as the simplest of mankind.