Who said “If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to…”?

Verified

Jonathan Swift. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Miss Vanhomrigh (August 12, 1720)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to such a scoundrel.”
VerifiedLetter to Miss Vanhomrigh (August 12, 1720) · evidenceRiches
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Miss Vanhomrigh (August 12, 1720).

APA

Swift, J. (n.d.). If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to such a scoundrel. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36111-if-heaven-had-looked-upon-riches-to-be/

MLA

Swift, Jonathan. “If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to such a scoundrel.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36111-if-heaven-had-looked-upon-riches-to-be/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Swift, Jonathan. “If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to such a scoundrel.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36111-if-heaven-had-looked-upon-riches-to-be/.