Oliver Goldsmith Quotes - Page 12

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Virtue, Guarded, Sentinels

'The Vicar of Wakefield' (1766) ch. 5

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Hope, like the gleaming taper

Oliver Goldsmith

Hope

Oliver Goldsmith (1837). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M. B.: Including a Variety of Pieces”, p.88

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Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails, And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.

Oliver Goldsmith

Failure, Long, Contentment

Oliver Goldsmith (1825). “A History of the Earth: And Animated Nature”, p.844

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I always get the better when I argue alone.

Oliver Goldsmith

Funny, Sarcastic, Sarcasm

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Talking, Age, Whispering

Oliver Goldsmith, Walter MACLEOD (of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea.) (1858). “Goldsmith's Deserted village, with remarks on the analysis of sentences, exercises in parsing, notes ... and a life of the poet ... By Walter M'Leod”, p.52

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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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Wall, Night, Doors

Oliver Goldsmith (1805). “The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Etc”, p.32

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A night-cap deck'd his brows instead of bay,- A cap by night, a stocking all the day.

Oliver Goldsmith

Night, Caps, Brows

Oliver Goldsmith (1825). “Letters from a Citizen of the World to His Friends in the East”, p.94

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Romance and novel paint beauty in colors more charming than nature, and describe a happiness that humans never taste. How deceptive and destructive are those pictures of consummate bliss!

Oliver Goldsmith

Color, Romance, Taste

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Be not affronted at a joke. If one throw salt at thee, thou wilt receive no harm, unless thou art raw.

Oliver Goldsmith

Art, Salt, Harm

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On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting, 'Twas only when he was off, he was acting.

Oliver Goldsmith

Simple, Acting, Natural

'Retaliation' (1774) l. 101 (on Garrick)

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I have visited many countries, and have been in cities without number, yet never did I enter a town which could not produce ten or twelve little great men; all fancying themselves known to the rest of the world, and complimenting each other upon their extensive reputation.

Oliver Goldsmith

Country, Men, Cities

Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “The citizen of the world”, p.217

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Time, Towns, Faster

Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “Life. Commendatory verses. Poems. Plays. Letters. Memorandums of agreement between Dr. Goldsmith and Thomas Davies, bookseller”, p.234

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As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,- Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head.

Oliver Goldsmith

Sunshine, Clouds, Storm

Oliver Goldsmith (1871). “The works of Oliver Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield, select poems and comedies, with intr., notes and a life by J.F. Waller”, p.199

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Every want that stimulates the breast becomes a source of pleasure when redressed.

Oliver Goldsmith

Want, Pleasure, Source

Oliver Goldsmith (1857). “The Vicar of Wakefield: Together with the Poems ...”, p.158

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Amusement, Lasts, Firsts

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If you don't ask me questions, I can't give you an untrue answer.

Oliver Goldsmith

Giving, Answers, Ask Me

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Let observation with observant view,
Observe mankind from China to Peru.

Oliver Goldsmith

Travel, Views, Peru

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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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Wisdom, Animal, Circles

Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Miscellaneous Works: Letters from a citizen of the world, to his friend in the East. A familiar introduction to the study of natural history”, p.323

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He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.

Oliver Goldsmith

Friendship, Popularity, Casts

Oliver Goldsmith (1842). “The Select Works of Oliver Goldsmith: In One Volume. With the Portrait of the Author..”, p.217

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While Resignation gently slopes away, And all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the world be past.

Oliver Goldsmith

Past, Heaven, World

Oliver Goldsmith (1841). “Goldsmith's miscellaneous works”, p.7

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One writer, for instance, excels at a plan or a title page, another works away at the body of the book, and a third is a dab at an index.

Oliver Goldsmith

Book, Body, Pages

Oliver Goldsmith, David Masson (1869). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.353

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Husband, Flames, Repose

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Poetical works. Dramas. The vicar of Wakefield”, p.42

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Though very poor, may still be very blest.

Oliver Goldsmith

May, Poor, Stills

1770 The Deserted Village, l.426.

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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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Book, Vices, Should

Oliver Goldsmith (1833). “Miscellaneous works of Oliver Goldsmith: with a new life of the author”, p.219

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Book, Proportion, New Books

Oliver Goldsmith (1833). “Miscellaneous works of Oliver Goldsmith: with a new life of the author”, p.219

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Born: November 10, 1730
Died: April 4, 1774
Occupation: Novelist
Cite this Page: Citation

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