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Oliver Goldsmith Quotes - Page 10

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The world is like a vast sea: mankind like a vessel sailing on its tempestuous bosom. ... [T]he sciences serve us for oars.

The world is like a vast sea: mankind like a vessel sailing on its tempestuous bosom. ... [T]he sciences serve us for oars.

Oliver Goldsmith
Science, Sea, Sailing
Oliver Goldsmith (1824). “Letters from a Citizen of the World to His Friends in the East ...”, p.120

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Fool, Praying
The Deserted Village l. 179 (1770)

Wisdom makes a slow defense against trouble, though a sure one in the end.

Oliver Goldsmith
Wisdom, Defense, Trouble

But me, not destined such delights to share, My prime of life in wandering spent and care; Impell'd, with steps unceasing, to pursue Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view That, like the circle bounding earth and skies, Allures from far, yet, as I follow, flies; My fortune leads to traverse reams alone, And find no spot of all the world my own.

Oliver Goldsmith
Views, Sky, Circles
Oliver Goldsmith (1841). “Goldsmith's miscellaneous works”, p.2

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

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

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

Like the tiger, that seldom desists from pursuing man after having once preyed upon human flesh, the reader who has once gratified his appetite with calumny makes ever after the most agreeable feast upon murdered reputations!

Oliver Goldsmith
Men, Flesh, Reputation
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.211

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Giving, Answers, Ask Me

The life of a scholar seldom abounds with adventure.

Oliver Goldsmith
Adventure, Scholar
Oliver Goldsmith, David Masson (1869). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.475

Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.

Oliver Goldsmith
Peppers, Callous, Please
Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson, William Shenstone (1861). “Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Tobias Smollett, Samuel Johnson and William Shenstone”, p.31

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Ridiculous, Foolish, Folly
Oliver Goldsmith, David Masson (1869). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.156

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

True generosity is a duty as indispensably necessary as those imposed on us by law.

Oliver Goldsmith
Law, Generosity, Duty
Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Comprising His Poems, Comedies, Essays, and Vicar of Wakefield”, p.183

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Life, Men, Long
"Edwin and Angelina, or the Hermit" l. 31 (1766).

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
Fashion, Ignorance, Order
"On the Ladies' Passion for Levelling All Distinction of Dress". Essay by Oliver Goldsmith,

The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love.

Oliver Goldsmith
Love, Life, Looks
Oliver Goldsmith (1794). “The poetical works of Oliver Goldsmith, with the life of the author, embellished with vignettes by T. Bewick”, p.42

There is unspeakable pleasure attending the life of a voluntary student.

Oliver Goldsmith
Students, Pleasure, Attending
Oliver Goldsmith, Henry George Bohn (1848). “Works: With a Life and Notes”, p.239

The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form.

Oliver Goldsmith
Life, Form, Quarry
Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The works of Oliver Goldsmith. 1: Poetical works; Dramas; The vicar of Wakefield”, p.10

All the bloomy flush of life is fled.

Oliver Goldsmith
Life, Life Is
Oliver Goldsmith (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.47

The wretch condemn'd with life to part, Still, still on hope relies; And every pang that rends the heart Bids expectation rise.

Oliver Goldsmith
Hope, Heart, Expectations
Oliver Goldsmith (1837). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M. B.: Including a Variety of Pieces”, p.120

Wit generally succeeds more from being happily addressed than from its native poignancy. A jest, calculated to spread at a gaming-table, may be received with, perfect indifference should it happen to drop in a mackerel-boat.

Oliver Goldsmith
Perfect, May, Tables
Oliver Goldsmith (1841). “Essays”, p.3

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

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

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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