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About this quote

What does it mean?
Swift says satire shows others' faults but rarely the viewer's own.
In plain terms
Satire shows other people's faults but not your own.
What can you take from it?
Satire often fails at self-reflection.

Where it applies

  • media consumption
  • personal growth
  • criticism

Putting it to work

  • check self-bias
  • seek feedback

Questions to consider

  • What do you miss in satire?
  • How do you avoid hypocrisy?

Another view

It assumes all satire is hypocritical.

More from Jonathan Swift

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  3. I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well the judicious world is resolved to list …

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