Yet malice never was his aim; He lashed the vice but spared the name. No individual could resent, Where thousands equally were meant. His satire points at no defect But what all mortals may correct; For he abhorred that senseless tribe Who call it humor when they gibe.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Satire targets vice, not specific people. It aims to correct universal faults.
- In plain terms
- Mock bad behavior, not individuals.
- What can you take from it?
- Critique actions to avoid personal attacks.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are you attacking people or ideas?
- What needs correcting?
Another view
Some satire relies on targeting individuals.
More from Jonathan Swift
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 season…
Permalink to quote #27 Hobbes clearly proves that every creature Lives in a state of war by nature.
Permalink to quote #29 I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishi…
Permalink to quote #26
Related quotes
'I'm an owl; you're another. Sir Critic, good day.' And the barber kept on shaving.
James Thomas FieldsJames Thomas Fields quote #2 Abstainer, n. A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure. A total abstainer is one who abstains from everything but abstention, a…
Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce quote #4 If ignorance ever goes to $40 a barrel, I want drillin' rights on that man's head. - On George W. Bush
Jim HightowerJim Hightower quote #9