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Oliver Goldsmith Quotes - Page 2

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Hope, like the gleaming taper's light, Adorns and cheers our way; And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a brighter ray.

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
Inspirational, Hope, Cheer
Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The works of Oliver Goldsmith. 1: Poetical works; Dramas; The vicar of Wakefield”, p.70

The first blow is half the battle.

Oliver Goldsmith
Blow, Battle, Firsts
'She Stoops to Conquer' (1773) act 2

If one wishes to become rich they must appear rich.

Oliver Goldsmith
Wish, Rich, Appearance

The greatest object in the universe, says a certain philosopher, is a good man struggling with adversity; yet there is still a greater, which is the good man who comes to relieve it.

Oliver Goldsmith
Struggle, Adversity, Men
Oliver Goldsmith (1816). “The Vicar of Wakefield”, p.176

In two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.

Oliver Goldsmith
Two, Opposites, Opinion
Oliver Goldsmith (1837). “The Works ...”, p.216

A boy will learn more true wisdom in a public school in a year than by a private education in five. It is not from masters, but from their equals, that youth learn a knowledge of the world.

Oliver Goldsmith
School, Boys, Years
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.138

Ridicule has always been the enemy of enthusiasm, and the only worthy opponent to ridicule is success.

Oliver Goldsmith
Enemy, Opponents, Enthusiasm

It has been well observed that few are better qualified to give others advice than those who have taken the least of it themselves.

Oliver Goldsmith
Taken, Giving, Advice
Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Comprising His Poems, Comedies, Essays, and Vicar of Wakefield”, p.202

Error is always talkative.

Oliver Goldsmith
Errors, Talking, Talkative

As ten millions of circles can never make a square, so the united voice of myriads cannot lend the smallest foundation to falsehood.

Oliver Goldsmith
Squares, Circles, Voice
Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Comprising His Poems, Comedies, Essays, and Vicar of Wakefield”, p.397

We seldom speak of the virtue which we have, but much oftener of that which we lack.

Oliver Goldsmith
Speak, Virtue

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Needs, Borrowing, Multitudes

Crimes generally punish themselves.

Oliver Goldsmith
Prison, Crime
Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Poetical works. Dramas. The vicar of Wakefield”, p.192

An Englishman fears contempt more than death.

Oliver Goldsmith
Contempt, Englishmen
Oliver Goldsmith, Henry George Bohn (1848). “Works: With a Life and Notes”, p.13

Every absurdity has a champion to defend it.

Oliver Goldsmith
Champion, Absurdity

A great source of calamity lies in regret and anticipation; therefore a person is wise who thinks of the present alone, regardless of the past or future.

Oliver Goldsmith
Wise, Regret, Lying

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
Strength, World, Indifference
Oliver Goldsmith (1825). “A History of the Earth: And Animated Nature”, p.870

Silence gives consent.

Oliver Goldsmith
Inspirational, War, Giving
Oliver Goldsmith (1792). “The Good Natured Man: A Comedy”, p.28

The English laws punish vice; the Chinese laws do more, they reward virtue.

Oliver Goldsmith
Funny, Humor, Law
Oliver Goldsmith (1794). “The Citizen of the World Or Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, Residing in London, to His Friend in the East”, p.33

To a philosopher no circumstance, however trifling, is too minute.

Oliver Goldsmith
Philosophy, Philosopher, Minutes
Oliver Goldsmith (1819). “The Citizen of the World; Or, Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, Residing in London, to His Friends in the East”, p.124

Write how you want, the critic shall show the world you could have written better.

Oliver Goldsmith
Writing, Criticism, World

The company of fools may first make us smile, but in the end we always feel melancholy.

Oliver Goldsmith
Happiness, Smile, Laughter

The ingratitude of the world can never deprive us of the conscious happiness of having acted with humanity ourselves.

Oliver Goldsmith
Humanity, World, Conscious
Oliver Goldsmith, David Masson (1869). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.623

Little things are great to little men.

Oliver Goldsmith
Men, Littles, Little Things
"The traveller. Or, a prospect of society". Poem by Oliver Goldsmith, 1764.

One should not quarrel with a dog without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.

Oliver Goldsmith
Dog, Morality, Reason

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