Oliver Goldsmith Quotes

Novels teach the youthful mind to sigh after happiness that never existed.

Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie.

A man's own heart must ever be given to gain that of another.

What we say of a thing that has just come in fashion And that which we do with the dead, Is the name of the honestest man in the nation: What more of a man can be said?

It world be well had we more misers than we have among us.

The malicious sneer is improperly called laughter.

We had no revolutions to fear, nor fatigues to undergo; all our adventures were by the fireside, and all our migrations from the blue bed to the brown.

The pictures placed for ornament and use, The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.

All the bloomy flush of life is fled.

In my time, the follies of the town crept slowly among us, but now they travel faster than a stagecoach.

Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And we shall never, never part, My life-my all that's mine!

All the sciences are, in some measure, linked with each other, and before the one is ended, the other begins.

Man wants but little here below, Nor wants that little long.

The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, For talking age and whispering lovers made.

The wisdom of the ignorant somewhat resembles the instinct of animals; it is diffused in but a very narrow sphere, but within the circle it acts with vigor, uniformity, and success.

To husband out life's taper at the close, And keep the flames from wasting by repose.

A man he was to all the country dear, And passing rich with forty pounds a year.

By every remove I only drag a greater length of chain.

Though very poor, may still be very blest.

In proportion as society refines, new books must ever become more necessary.

Amid thy desert-walks the lapwing flies, And tires their echoes with unvaried cries.

I always get the better when I argue alone.

All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them.

The folly of others is ever most ridiculous to those who are themselves most foolish.

For the first time, the best may err, art may persuade, and novelty spread out its charms. The first fault is the child of simplicity; but every other the offspring of guilt.

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no fibs.

In my box of sound bites there are no jackhammers, no snowmobiles, no Jet Skis, no children wailing. Music but no Muzak.It's my box. Put what you want in yours.

We take gingko to sharpen our memories. We could be memorizing song lyrics instead.

…The more enormous our wealth, the more extensive our fears, all our possessions are paled up with new edicts every day, and hung round with gibbets to scare every invader.

Conscience is a coward and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent it seldom has justice enough to accuse.

He who fights and runs away May live to fight another day. But he who is in battle slain Can never rise to fight again.

Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no fibs.

Philosophy ... should not pretend to increase our present stock but make us economists of what we are possessed of.

To make a fine gentleman several trades are required but chiefly a barber.

Hope like the gleaming taper's light adorns and cheers our way And still as darker grows the night emits a lighter ray.

People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after.

The English laws punish vice the Chinese laws do more they reward virtue.

Laws grind the poor and rich men rule the law.

And still they gazed and still the wonder grew That one small head should carry all it knew.

Man wants but little here below nor wants that little long.

Man wants but little here below Nor wants that little long.

Philosophy is a good horse in the stable but an errant jade on a journey.

The man recover'd of the bite The dog it was that died.

At church with meek and unaffected grace His looks adorn'd the venerable place Truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway And fools who came to scoff remain'd to pray.

At church with meek and unaffected grace His looks adorn'd the venerable place Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway And fools who came to scoff remain'd to pray.

But in his duty prompt at every call He watch'd and wept he pray'd and felt for all.

The hours we pass with happy prospects in view are more pleasing than those crowned with fruition.

He who seeks for applause only from without has all his happiness in another's keeping.

He watch'd and wept he pray'd and felt for all.

I'll fares the land to hastening ills of prey Where wealth accumulates and men decay.