Satire

Explore 55 quotes from the following genre: Satire

If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others?

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

Problem of evil

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Statement Type

Question

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 6.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 6.

All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

Problem of evil Nature of the world The world

Speaker

Pangloss

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 1.

I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our more stupid melancholy propensities, for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one’s very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

Love of life

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 12.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 12.

Great wits are sure to madness near allied
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.

John Dryden

Absalom and Achitophel

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Topic

Genius and insanity Genius Insanity

Author

John Dryden

Source

Absalom and Achitophel

Medium

Poem

Genre

Satire

Language

English

Time

1681 1680s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Dryden, John. Absalom and Achitophel. London: Jacob Tonson, 1681, pt. 1, I. 163.

Current Citation

Dryden, John. "Absalom and Achitophel." John Dryden Selected Poems. Penguin Classics, 2002, pt. 1, I. 163.

For who can be secure of private right,
If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might?
Nor is the people's judgement always true:
The most may err as grossly as the few.

John Dryden

Absalom and Achitophel

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Topic

The masses Rule of law Democracy

Author

John Dryden

Source

Absalom and Achitophel

Medium

Poem

Genre

Satire

Language

English

Time

1681 1680s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Dryden, John. Absalom and Achitophel. London: Jacob Tonson, 1681, pt. 1, I. 779.

Current Citation

Dryden, John. "Absalom and Achitophel." John Dryden Selected Poems. Penguin Classics, 2002, pt. 1, I. 779.

Men are never so serious, thoughtful, and intent as when they are at stool.

Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels

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Topic

Mindfulness Thinking clearly

Author

Jonathan Swift

Source

Gulliver's Travels

Genre

Satire Travel writing

Language

English

Time

1726 1720s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships. London: Benjamin Motte, 1726, pt. 3, ch. 6.

Current Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels, edited by Albert J. Rivero. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001, pt. 3, ch. 6.

Speak the truth and shame the Devil.

Francois Rabelais

Gargantua and Pantagruel

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Topic

Telling the truth

Author

Francois Rabelais

Source

Gargantua and Pantagruel

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satirical fiction Satire

Language

French

Time

1553 1550s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Rabelais, Francois [published as Alcofribas Nasier]. Le cinquiesme et dernier livre des faicts et dicts héroïques du bon Pantagruel [The Fifth and Last Book of the Heroic Deeds and Sayings of Good Pantagruel]. c. 1564.

Current Citation

Rabelais, Francois. Gargantua & Pantagruel. Dover Publications, 2016, bk. 5, prologue.

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.

Jonathan Swift

Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

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Topic

Vision Perception

Author

Jonathan Swift

Source

Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

Medium

Essay

Genre

Satire

Language

English

Time

1745 1740s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Swift, Jonathan. "Thoughts on Various Subjects." Miscellanies. Vol. 11, London: C. Hitch, C. Davis, R. Dodsley and W. Bowyer, 1751.

What is Love?... It is the morning and the evening star.

Sinclair Lewis

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Topic

Nature of love Love

Author

Sinclair Lewis

Source

Elmer Gantry

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Statement Type

Definition

Language

English

Time

1927 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lewis, Sinclair. Elmer Gantry. Harcourt Trade Publishers, 1927, ch. 20.

Current Citation

Lewis, Sinclair. Elmer Gantry. Signet, 2007, ch. 20.

He had been eight years upon a project for extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers, which were to be put into vials hermetically sealed, and let out to warm the air in raw inclement summers.

Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels

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Topic

Research

Author

Jonathan Swift

Source

Gulliver's Travels

Genre

Satire Travel writing

Language

English

Time

1726 1720s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships. London: Benjamin Motte, 1726, pt. 3, ch. 5.

Current Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels, edited by Albert J. Rivero. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001, pt. 3, ch. 5.

They wonder much to hear that gold, which in itself is so useless a thing, should be everywhere so much esteemed, that even men for whom it was made, and by whom it has its value, should yet be thought of less value than it is.

Thomas More

Utopia

On the citizens of Utopia.

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Topic

Gold

Author

Thomas More

Source

Utopia

Genre

Satire Political literature

Language

Latin

Time

1516 1520s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

More, Thomas. Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia. Leuven: Self-published, 1516, bk. 2.

Current Citation

More, Thomas. Utopia, edited and translated by Paul Turner. Penguin Classics, 2003, bk. 2.

The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.

George Bernard Shaw

Plays Unpleasant

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Topic

Unrequited love Challenges of love

Speaker

Leonard Charteris

Author

George Bernard Shaw

Source

The Philanderer Plays Unpleasant

Medium

Play

Genre

Satire

Language

English

Time

1898 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Shaw, George Bernard. "The Philanderer." Plays Unpleasant. Penguin Classics, 2001, act 2. Originally published by Grant Richards, 1898.

To laugh is proper to man.

Francois Rabelais

Gargantua and Pantagruel

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Topic

Laughter

Author

Francois Rabelais

Source

Gargantua and Pantagruel

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satirical fiction Satire

Language

French

Time

1534 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Rabelais, Francois [published as Alcofribas Nasier]. Les horribles et épouvantables faits et prouesses du très renommé Pantagruel Roi des Dipsodes, fils du Grand Géant Gargantua [The Horrible and Terrifying Deeds and Words of the Very Renowned Pantagruel King of the Dipsodes, Son of the Great Giant Gargantua]. Vol. 1, 1532, bk. 1, prefatory note.

Current Citation

Rabelais, Francois. Gargantua & Pantagruel. Dover Publications, 2016, bk. 1, prefatory note.

I said there was a society of men among us bred up from their youth in the art of proving by words multiplied for the purpose that white is black and black is white, according as they are paid. To this society all the rest of the people are slaves.

Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels

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Topic

Lawyers

Speaker

On lawyers.

Author

Jonathan Swift

Source

Gulliver's Travels

Genre

Satire Travel writing

Language

English

Time

1726 1720s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships. London: Benjamin Motte, 1726, pt. 4, ch. 5.

Current Citation

Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels, edited by Albert J. Rivero. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001, pt. 4, ch. 5.

They have no lawyers among them, for they consider them as a sort of people whose profession it is to disguise matters.

Thomas More

Utopia

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Topic

Lawyers

Author

Thomas More

Source

Utopia

Genre

Satire Political literature

Language

Latin

Time

1516 1510s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

More, Thomas. Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia. Leuven: Self-published, 1516, bk. 2.

Current Citation

More, Thomas. Utopia, edited and translated by Paul Turner. Penguin Classics, 2003, bk. 2.

We must cultivate our garden.

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

Gardens Simple living

Speaker

Candide

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 30.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 30.

Work keeps at bay three great evils: boredom, vice, and need.

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

Work

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 30.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 30.

She blushed and so did he. She greeted him in a faltering voice, and he spoke to her without knowing what he was saying.

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

New love

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 1.

Every man desires to live long; but no man would be old.

Jonathan Swift

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Topic

Long life Old age Aging

Author

Jonathan Swift

Source

Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

Medium

Essay

Genre

Satire

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1727 1720s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Swift, Jonathan. "Thoughts on Various Subjects." Miscellanies in Prose and Verse. 2nd ed, Vol. 1, London: Sam Fairbrother, 1727.

Current Citation

Swift, Jonathan. "Thoughts on Various Subjects (1711)." Jonathan Swift: The Essential Writings, edited by Claude Rawson and Ian Higgins. W. W. Norton & Company, 2009.

There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.

Jonathan Swift

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Topic

Willful ignorance Ignorance Blindness

Author

Jonathan Swift

Source

Polite Conversation

Genre

Satire

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

English

Time

1738 1730s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Swift, Johnathan. "Dialogue III." Polite Conversation. London: Charles Wittinham & Co., 1738.

Current Citation

Swift, Jonathan. "Polite Conversation." Parodies, Hoaxes, Mock Treatises: Polite Conversation, Directions Servants and Other Works, edited by Valerie Rumbold. Cambridge University Press, 2013, no. 3.