Oliver Goldsmith Quotes

The way to acquire lasting esteem is not by the fewness of a writer's faults, but the greatness of his beauties, and our noblest works are generally most replete with both.

Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind.

A silent address is the genuine eloquence of sincerity.

Those who place their affections at first on trifles for amusement, will find these trifles become at last their most serious concerns.

As in some Irish houses, where things are so-so, One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show; But, for eating a rasher of what they take pride in, They'd as soon think of eating the pan it is fried in.

Eternal blessings crown my earliest friend, And round his dwelling guardian saints attend.

Alas! the joys that fortune brings Are trifling, and decay, And those who prize the trifling things, More trifling still than they.

To the last moment of his breath, On hope the wretch relies; And even the pang preceding death Bids expectation rise.

With disadvantages enough to bring him to humility, a Scotsman is one of the proudest things alive.

I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.

Wisdom makes a slow defense against trouble, though a sure one in the end.

And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.

Write how you want, the critic shall show the world you could have written better.

Surely the best way to meet the enemy is head on in the field and not wait till they plunder our very homes.

Fear guides more than gratitude.

I can't say whether we had more wit among us now than usual, but I am certain we had more laughing, which answered the end as well.

Whenever you see a gaming table be sure to know fortune is not there. Rather she is always in the company of industry.

The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love.

The wretch condemn'd with life to part, Still, still on hope relies; And every pang that rends the heart Bids expectation rise.

Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam, His first best country ever is at home.

Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.

True generosity is a duty as indispensably necessary as those imposed on us by law.

He makes a very handsome corpse and becomes his coffin prodigiously.

Girls like to be played with and rumpled a little too sometimes.

How blest is he who crowns in shades like these A youth of labour with an age of ease!

But winter lingering chills the lap of May.

The jests of the rich are ever successful.

The heart of every man lies open to the shafts of correction if the archer can take proper aim.

Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace the day's disasters in his morning face.

In a polite age almost every person becomes a reader, and receives more instruction from the Press than the Pulpit.

The sports of children satisfy the child.

Thus 'tis with all; their chief and constant care Is to seem everything but what they are.

That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.

Blest be those feasts, with simple plenty crowned, Where all the ruddy family around Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale.

Prudery is ignorance.

True genius walks along a line, and, perhaps, our greatest pleasure is in seeing it so often near falling, without being ever actually down.

All is not gold that glitters, Pleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters

Turn, gentle Hermit of the Dale, And guide my lonely way To where yon taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray.

Whatever be the motives which induce men to write,--whether avarice or fame,--the country becomes more wise and happy in which they most serve for instructors.

And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.

Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.

All that philosophy can teach is to be stubborn or sullen under misfortunes.

To aim at excellence, our reputation, and friends, and all must be ventured; to aim at the average we run no risk and provide little service.

Thou source of all my bliss and all my woe, That found'st me poor at first, and keep'st me so.

Our pleasures are short, and can only charm at intervals; love is a method of protraction our greatest pleasure.

Books are necessary to correct the vices of the polite; but those vices are ever changing, and the antidote should be changed accordingly should still be new.

We sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhance the value of its favors.

If we do not find happiness in the present moment, in what shall we find it?

I have seen her and sister cry over a book for an hour together, and they said, they liked the book the better the more it made them cry.

A volcano may be considered as a cannon of immense size.