Oliver Goldsmith's Quotes & Sayings

O Luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree! — Oliver Goldsmith

Blest that abode, where want and pain repair, And every stranger finds a ready chair. — Oliver Goldsmith

I love everything that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines. — Oliver Goldsmith

The bounds of a man's knowledge are easily concealed, if he has but prudence. — Oliver Goldsmith

And e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart distrusting asks if this be joy. — Oliver Goldsmith

I fretted myself about the mistakes of government, like other people; but finding myself every day grow more angry, and the government growing no better, I left it to mend itself. — Oliver Goldsmith

Hope, like the gleaming taper's light, adorns and cheers our way; and still, as darker grows the night, emits a brighter ray. — Oliver Goldsmith

The Europeans are themselves blind who describe fortune without sight. No first-rate beauty ever had finer eyes, or saw more clearly. They who have no other trade but seeking their fortune need never hope to find her; coquette-like, she flies from her close pursuers, and at last fixes on the plodding mechanic who stays at home and minds his business. — Oliver Goldsmith

Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close,
Up yonder hill the village murmur rose;
There as I passed, with careless steps and slow,
The mingling notes came soften'd from below;
The swain responsive as the milkmaid sung,
The sober herd that low'd to meet their young;
The noisy geese that gabbled o'er the pool,
The playful children just let loose from school;
The watch-dog's voice that bay'd the whispering wind,
And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind;
These all in sweet confusion sought the shade,
And fill'd each pause the nightingale had made. — Oliver Goldsmith

So the loud torrent, and the whirlwind's roar, But bind him to his native mountains more. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

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

Popular glory is a perfect coquette; her lovers must toil, feel every inquietude, indulge every caprice, and perhaps at last be jilted into the bargain. True glory, on the other hand, resembles a woman of sense; her admirers must play no tricks. They feel no great anxiety, for they are sure in the end of being rewarded in proportion to their merit. — Oliver Goldsmith

He who fights and runs away
May live to fight another day;
But he who is battle slain
Can never rise to fight again
— Oliver Goldsmith

The first time I read an excellent book, it is to me just as if I had gained a new friend. When I read a book over I have perused before, it resembles the meeting with an old one. — Oliver Goldsmith

The beast retires to it's shelter, and the bird flies to it's nest; but the helpless man can only find refuge in his fellow creature. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

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

The work of eradicating crimes is not by making punishment familiar, but formidable. — Oliver Goldsmith

The soul may be compared to a field of battle, where the armies are ready every moment to encounter. Not a single vice but has a more powerful opponent, and not one virtue but may be overborne by a combination of vices. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

The malicious sneer is improperly called laughter. — Oliver Goldsmith

Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue. — Oliver Goldsmith

The more various our artificial necessities, the wider is our circle of pleasure; for all pleasure consists in obviating necessities as they rise; luxury, therefore, as it increases our wants, increases our capacity for happiness — Oliver Goldsmith

Don't let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have so many real ones to encounter. — Oliver Goldsmith

Every absurdity has a champion to defend it. — Oliver Goldsmith

To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine! — Oliver Goldsmith

Where wealth accumulates, men decay. — Oliver Goldsmith

Quality and title have such allurements that hundreds are ready to give up all their own importance, to cringe, to flatter, to look little, and to pall every pleasure in constraint, merely to be among the great, though without the least hopes of improving their understanding or sharing their generosity. They might be happier among their equals. — Oliver Goldsmith

Error is ever talkative. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

Those who think must govern those that toil. — Oliver Goldsmith

Hope is such a bait, it covers any hook. — Oliver Goldsmith

Our Garrick 's a salad; for in him we see Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree! — Oliver Goldsmith

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. — Oliver Goldsmith

Near yonder copse, where once the garden smil'd,
And still where many a garden flower grows wild,
There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,
The village preacher's modest mansion rose.
A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year;
Remote from town's he ran his godly race,
Nor e'er had chang'd nor wish'd to change his place;
Unskilful he to fawn, or seek for power,
By doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour;
Far other aims his heart had learn'd to prize.
More bent to raise the wretched than to rise. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

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! — Oliver Goldsmith

At night returning, every labour sped,
He sits him down, the monarch of a shed;
Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys
His children's looks, that brighten at the blaze;
While his lov'd partner, boastful of her hoard,
Displays her cleanly platter on the board. — Oliver Goldsmith

Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt; It 's like sending them ruffles when wanting a shirt. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

In all my wanderings through this world of care,
In all my griefs
and God has given my share
I still had hopes, my latest hours to crown,
Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down;
To husband out life's taper at the close,
And keep the flame from wasting, by repose:
I still had hopes, for pride attends us still,
Amidst the swains to show my book-learn'd skill,
Around my fire an evening group to draw,
And tell of all I felt, and all I saw;
And, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue,
Pants to the place from whence at first she flew,
I still had hopes, my long vexations past,
Here to return
and die at home at last. — Oliver Goldsmith

Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile. — Oliver Goldsmith

No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array,
But winter lingering chills the lap of May;
No zephyr fondly sues the mountain's breast,
But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest. — Oliver Goldsmith

As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure; but there's no love lost between us. — Oliver Goldsmith

Trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay. — Oliver Goldsmith

I love everything that's old, - old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine. — Oliver Goldsmith

And the weak soul, within itself unbless'd, Leans for all pleasure on another's breast. — Oliver Goldsmith

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. — Oliver Goldsmith

Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity gave ere charity began. Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, And even his failings lean'd to Virtue's side. — Oliver Goldsmith

The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

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. — Oliver Goldsmith

When a person has no need to borrow they find multitudes willing to lend. — Oliver Goldsmith

All that a husband or wife really wants is to be pitied a little, praised a little, and appreciated a little. — Oliver Goldsmith

I always get the better when I argue alone. — Oliver Goldsmith

The nakedness of the indigent world may be clothed from the trimmings of the vain. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

Where commerce and capitalism are invloved, often times, morality and honor sink to the bottom-Oliver Goldsmith paraphrased — Oliver Goldsmith

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

It is not easy to recover an art when once lost. — Oliver Goldsmith

A kind and gentle heart he had, To comfort friends and foes; The naked every day he clad When he put on his clothes. — Oliver Goldsmith

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. — Oliver Goldsmith

There is probably no country so barbarous that would not disclose all it knew, if it received equivalent information; and I am apt to think that a person who was ready to give more knowledge than he received would be welcome wherever he came. — Oliver Goldsmith

At this he laughed, and so did we: the jests of the rich are ever successful. — Oliver Goldsmith

Good counsel rejected returns to enrich the givers bosom. — Oliver Goldsmith

Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done, Shoulder'd his crutch, and shew'd how fields were won. — Oliver Goldsmith

There is one way by which a strolling player may be ever secure of success; that is, in our theatrical way of expressing it, to make a great deal of the character. To speak and act as in common life is not playing, nor is it what people come to see; natural speaking, like sweet wine, runs glibly over the palate and scarcely leaves any taste behind it; but being high in a part resembles vinegar, which grates upon the taste, and one feels it while he is drinking. — Oliver Goldsmith

There is nothing magnanimous in bearing misfortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is looking on ... He who, without friends to encourage or even without hope to alleviate his misfortunes, can behave with tranquility and indifference, is truly great. — Oliver Goldsmith

Villainy, when detected, never gives up, but boldly adds impudence to imposture. — Oliver Goldsmith

What if in Scotland's wilds we viel'd our head, Where tempests whistle round the sordid bed; Where the rug's two-fold use we might display, By night a blanket, and a plaid by day. — Oliver Goldsmith

An Englishman fears contempt more than death. — Oliver Goldsmith

An emperor in his nightcap will not meet with half the respect of an emperor with a crown. — Oliver Goldsmith

Nothing is so contemptible as that affectation of wisdom, which some display, by universal incredulity. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

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

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. — Oliver Goldsmith

Hope, like the gleaming taper — Oliver Goldsmith

Could a man live by it, it were not unpleasant employment to be a poet. — Oliver Goldsmith

What is genius or courage without a heart? — Oliver Goldsmith

Law grinds the poor, and rich men rule the law. — Oliver Goldsmith

Fear guides more than gratitude. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

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

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. — Joan Oliver Goldsmith

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

The country blooms - a garden, and a grave. — Oliver Goldsmith

In arguing one should meet serious pleading with humor, and humor with serious pleading. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

Why was this heart of mine formed with so much sensibility! Or why not my fortune adapted to its impulses! Tenderness without a capacity of relieving only makes the man who feels it more wretched than the object which sues for assistance. — Oliver Goldsmith

Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law. — Oliver Goldsmith

If you find yourself pulled beyond all practicality toward doing something
writing poetry, building a business, restoring old cars, planting a secret garden; if at four in the morning the right word comes to you, the perfect flower to plant in that particular spot
you are playing your invisible instrument. — Joan Oliver Goldsmith

Wealth accumulates, and men decay. — Oliver Goldsmith

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

A silent address is the genuine eloquence of sincerity. — Oliver Goldsmith

Tenderness is a virtue. — Oliver Goldsmith

I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, for qualities that would wear well. — Oliver Goldsmith

A French woman is a perfect architect in dress: she never, with Gothic ignorance, mixes the orders; she never tricks out a snobby Doric shape with Corinthian finery; or, to speak without metaphor, she conforms to general fashion only when it happens not to be repugnant to private beauty. — Oliver Goldsmith