“ This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavour to do himself honour among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him. ”
Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels (1726). copy citation
| Author | Jonathan Swift |
|---|---|
| Source | Gulliver's Travels |
| Topic | equality honour comparison |
| Date | 1726 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/829/829-h/829-h.htm |
Context
“This I delivered in a firm tone, like a person who was jealous lest his courage should be called in question. However, my speech produced nothing else beside a loud laughter, which all the respect due to his majesty from those about him could not make them contain. This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavour to do himself honour among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him. And yet I have seen the moral of my own behaviour very frequent in England since my return; where a little contemptible varlet, without the least title to birth, person, wit, or common sense, shall presume to look with importance, and put himself upon a foot with the greatest persons of the kingdom.”
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Meaning and analysis
