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Oliver Goldsmith Quotes - Page 14

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There are but few talents requisite to become a popular preacher; for the people are easily pleased if they perceive any endeavors in the orator to please them. The meanest qualifications will work this effect if the

There are but few talents requisite to become a popular preacher; for the people are easily pleased if they perceive any endeavors in the orator to please them. The meanest qualifications will work this effect if the preacher sincerely sets about it.

Oliver Goldsmith
People, Talent, Endeavor
Oliver Goldsmith, Thomas Percy, Thomas Campbell (1812). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.”, p.326

Alas! the joys that fortune brings Are trifling, and decay, And those who prize the trifling things, More trifling still than they.

Oliver Goldsmith
Joy, Decay, Fortune
Oliver Goldsmith (1841). “Goldsmith's miscellaneous works”, p.5

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Lying, Trotting, Asks

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

He makes a very handsome corpse and becomes his coffin prodigiously.

Oliver Goldsmith
Sarcastic, Coffins, Handsome
The Good Natured Man Act I

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

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
Eye, Home, Sight
Oliver Goldsmith (1820). “Miscellaneous Works: To which is Prefixed Some Account of His Life and Writings”, p.277

Girls like to be played with and rumpled a little too sometimes.

Oliver Goldsmith
Girl, Mom, Daughter
Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “Life. Commendatory verses. Poems. Plays. Letters. Memorandums of agreement between Dr. Goldsmith and Thomas Davies, bookseller”, p.284

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

Pity, though it may often relieve, is but, at best, a short-lived passion, and seldom affords distress more than transitory assistance; with some it scarce lasts from the first impulse till the hand can be put into the pocket.

Oliver Goldsmith
Passion, Hands, May
Oliver Goldsmith (1824). “Essays, poems and plays”, p.33

Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the badges of ignorance or of stupidity, whenever it would endeavor to please.

Oliver Goldsmith
Ignorance, Stupidity, Endeavor
Oliver Goldsmith (1819). “Letters From A Citizen Of The World: To His Friends In The East”, p.135

Fear guides more to their duty than gratitude; for one man who is virtuous from the love of virtue, from the obligation he thinks he lies under to the Giver of all, there are ten thousand who are good only from their apprehension of punishment.

Oliver Goldsmith
Gratitude, Lying, Men
Oliver Goldsmith (1849). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith: With an Account of His Life and Writings : Stereotyped from the Paris Edition : Complete in One Volume”, p.258

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Philosophy, Stubborn, Sullen
Oliver Goldsmith (1835). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.: With a Life and Notes”, p.83

As in some Irish houses, where things are so-so, One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show; But, for eating a rasher of what they take pride in, They'd as soon think of eating the pan it is fried in.

Oliver Goldsmith
Pride, Thinking, House
Oliver Goldsmith, David Masson (1869). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.592

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Mind, Teach, Novel

Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high, Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye, Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspired, Where graybeard mirth and smiling toil retired, Where village statesmen talk'd with looks profound, And news much older than their ale went round.

Oliver Goldsmith
Lying, Eye, Nuts
Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.: With a Biographical Memoir of the Author, Written Expressly for this Edition”, p.100

Though very poor, may still be very blest.

Oliver Goldsmith
May, Poor, Stills
1770 The Deserted Village, l.426.

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

Men may be very learned, and yet very miserable; it is easy to be a deep geometrician, or a sublime astronomer, but very difficult to be a good man. I esteem, therefore, the traveller who instructs the heart, but despise him who only indulges the imagination. A man who leaves home to mend himself and others, is a philosopher; but he who goes from country to country, guided by the blind impulse of curiosity, is only a vagabond.

Oliver Goldsmith
Country, Home, Heart
Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The works of Oliver Goldsmith. 2: Enquiry into the present state of polite learning; The citizen of the world”, p.106

Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.

Oliver Goldsmith
Politics, Certain, Attempting

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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