Jonathan Swift, Polite Conversation (c. 1738), Dialogue III. Anstey—New Bath Guide, p. 130. (1767); reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 911-17.

There was all the world and his wife.

— Jonathan Swift on World

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "There was all the world and his wife." in the context of "Jonathan Swift, Polite Conversation (c. 1738), Dialogue III. Anstey—New Bath Guide, p. 130. (1767); reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 911-17." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "World" (S) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Jonathan Swift

About Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish writer and satirist. Acclaimed as one of the finest prose satirists in the English language, he was also well known for his poetry and essays.