Oliver Goldsmith Quotes - Page 8

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Man seems the only growth that dwindles here.

Oliver Goldsmith

Men, Growth, Seems

Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson, William Shenstone (1861). “Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson and William Shenstone”, p.6

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Fancy restrained may be compared to a fountain, which plays highest by diminishing the aperture.

Oliver Goldsmith

Play, May, Fancy

Oliver Goldsmith (1820). “Letters from a citizen of the world, to his friends in the East”, p.154

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Hope, Future, Views

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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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Simple, Laughing, Failing

Oliver Goldsmith (1837). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M. B.: Including a Variety of Pieces”, p.14

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There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher. Fontenelle says he would undertake to persuade the whole public of readers to believe that the sun was neither the cause of light or heat, if he could only get six philosophers on his side.

Oliver Goldsmith

Philosophy, Believe, Science

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Man little knows what calamities are beyond his patience to bear till he tries them; as in ascending the heights of ambition, which look bright from below, every step we rise shows us some new and gloomy prospect of hidden disappointment; so in our descent from the summits of pleasure, though the vale of misery below may appear, at first, dark and gloomy, yet the busy mind, still attentive to its own amusement, finds, as we descend, something to flatter and to please. Still as we approach, the darkest objects appear to brighten, and the mortal eye becomes adapted to its gloomy situation.

Oliver Goldsmith

Disappointment, Ambition, Eye

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Poetical works. Dramas. The vicar of Wakefield”, p.376

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The youth who follows his appetites too soon seizes the cup, before it has received its best ingredients, and by anticipating his pleasures, robs the remaining parts of life of their share, so that his eagerness only produces manhood of imbecility and an age of pain.

Oliver Goldsmith

Pain, Age, Cups

Oliver Goldsmith (1816). “A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature”, p.399

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Echoes, Desert, Cry

Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson, William Shenstone (1861). “Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson and William Shenstone”, p.16

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Fine declamation does not consist in flowery periods, delicate allusions of musical cadences, but in a plain, open, loose style, where the periods are long and obvious, where the same thought is often exhibited in several points of view.

Oliver Goldsmith

Views, Long, Musical

Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Comprising His Poems, Comedies, Essays, and Vicar of Wakefield”, p.281

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I learn several great truths; as that it is impossible to see into the ways of futurity, that punishment always attends the villain, that love is the fond soother of the human breast.

Oliver Goldsmith

Love Is, Punishment, Experience

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Enquiry into the present state of polite learning. The citizen of the world”, p.407

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This is that eloquence the ancients represented as lightning, bearing down every opposer; this the power which has turned whole assemblies into astonishment, admiration and awe- - that is described by the torrent, the flame, and every other instance of irresistible impetuosity.

Oliver Goldsmith

Flames, Lightning, Astonishment

Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Miscellaneous Works: The bee. Essays. An inquiry into the present state of polite learning in Europe. Prefaces and introductions”, p.131

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And fools who came to scoff remain'd to pray.

Oliver Goldsmith

Fool, Praying

The Deserted Village l. 179 (1770)

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Error is ever talkative.

Oliver Goldsmith

Errors, Talkative

Oliver Goldsmith (1863). “The Poetical Works ...: And The Vicar of Wakefield ...”, p.14

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In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd the gazing rustics rang'd around; And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew.

Oliver Goldsmith

Learning, Skills, Sound

Oliver Goldsmith, John Mitford (1851). “The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.42

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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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Country, Learning, Character

Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “An inquiry into the present state of polite learning. The Bee. History of Cyrillo Padovano. Life of Dr. Parnell. Life of Lord Bolingbroke. Prefaces and introductions”, p.11

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Of all kinds of ambition, that which pursues poetical fame is the wildest

Oliver Goldsmith

Ambition, Kind, Fame

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Poetical works. Dramas. The vicar of Wakefield”, p.3

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Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog And in that town a dog was found, As many dogs there be, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree.

Oliver Goldsmith

Dog, Mad, Degrees

Oliver Goldsmith (1837). “The Works ...”, p.130

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Aspiring beggary is wretchedness itself.

Oliver Goldsmith

Wretchedness, Beggary

Oliver Goldsmith (1816). “The Vicar of Wakefield”, p.10

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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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Art, Children, Simplicity

Oliver Goldsmith (1840). “The vicar of Wakefield, accentuirt mit Wörterbuche von K.R. Schaub”, p.89

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By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd; The sports of children satisfy the child.

Oliver Goldsmith

Sports, Children, Caring

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.11

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And learn the luxury of doing good.

Oliver Goldsmith

Learning, Luxury, Doing Good

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The works of Oliver Goldsmith, ed. by P. Cunningham”, p.6

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Reading, Age, Instruction

Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “The miscellaneous works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.: with a biographical memoir of the author, written expressly for this edition”, p.219

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Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind; Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat To persuade Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote. Who too deep for his hearers still went on refining, And thought of convincing while they thought of dining: Though equal to all things, for all things unfit; Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit.

Oliver Goldsmith

Nice, Party, Learning

'Retaliation' (1774) l. 29 (on Edmund Burke)

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Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man.

Oliver Goldsmith

Lying, Men, Describe Me

'Retaliation' (1774) l. 93

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But winter lingering chills the lap of May.

Oliver Goldsmith

Winter, Lap, May

Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Comprising His Poems, Comedies, Essays, and Vicar of Wakefield”, p.6

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

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