Oliver Goldsmith Quotes
As ten millions of circles can never make a square, so the united voice of myriads cannot lend the smallest foundation to falsehood.
For just experience tells, in every soil, That those that think must govern those that toil.
Logicians have but ill defined As rational the human mind; Reason, they say, belongs to man, But let them prove it if they can.
You, that are going to be married, think things can never be done too fast: but we that are old, and know what we are about, must elope methodically, madam.
And what is friendship but a name, A charm that lulls to sleep, A shade that follows wealth or fame, And leaves the wretch to weep?
Philosophy ... should not pretend to increase our present stock, but make us economists of what we are possessed of.
A mind too vigorous and active, serves only to consume the body to which it is joined.
I fancy the character of a poet is in every country the same,--fond of enjoying the present, careless of the future; his conversation that of a man of sense, his actions those of a fool.
As few subjects are more interesting to society, so few have been more frequently written upon than the education of youth.
Good people all, with one accord, Lament for Madam Blaize, Who never wanted a good word From those who spoke her praise.
And e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart distrusting asks if this be joy.
When we take a slight survey of the surface of our globe a thousand objects offer themselves which, though long known, yet still demand our curiosity.
And as a bird each fond endearment tries To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies, He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.
A book may be very amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity.
You will always find that those are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or not merit of their own to depend on . . .
Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done, Shoulder'd his crutch, and shew'd how fields were won.
Vain, very vain, my weary search to find That bliss which only centers in the mind.
By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd; The sports of children satisfy the child.
Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.
Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.
Embosom'd in the deep where Holland lies. Methinks her patient sons before me stand, Where the broad ocean leans against the land.
Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man.
Whatever the skill of any country may be in the sciences, it is from its excellence in polite learning alone that it must expect a character from posterity.
The whitewash'd wall, the nicely sanded floor, The varnish'd clock that click'd behind the door; The chest, contriv'd a double debt to pay,- A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day.
The little mind who loves itself, will wr'te and think with the vulgar; but the great mind will be bravely eccentric, and scorn the beaten road, from universal benevolence.
Fancy restrained may be compared to a fountain, which plays highest by diminishing the aperture.
The volumes of antiquity, like medals, may very well serve to amuse the curious, but the works of the moderns, like the current coin of a kingdom, are much better for immediate use.
Nothing is so contemptible as that affectation of wisdom, which some display, by universal incredulity.
But times are alter'd; trade's unfeeling train Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain; Along the lawn, where scatter'd hamlets rose, Unwieldy wealth and cumbrous pomp repose.
The work of eradicating crimes is not by making punishment familiar, but formidable.
Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.