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Oliver Goldsmith Quotes - Page 8

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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

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

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
Running, Sweet, Drinking
Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: The bee. Essays. Unacknowledged essays. Prefaces, introductions, etc”, p.233

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

Whichever way we look the prospect is disagreeable. Behind, we have left pleasures we shall never enjoy, and therefore regret; and before, we see pleasures which we languish to possess, and are consequently uneasy till we possess them.

Oliver Goldsmith
Regret, Looks, Way
Oliver Goldsmith, David Masson (1869). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith”, p.157

Teach erring man to spurn the rage of gain.

Oliver Goldsmith
Teaching, Men, Gains
Oliver Goldsmith (1825). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Miscellaneous poems. The good-natured man. She stoops to conquer; or, the Mistakes of a night. An oratorio. Prefaces. [Criticisms”, p.67

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Heart, Men, Gains
Oliver Goldsmith (1828). “The Vicar of Wakefield, a Tale: To which is Annexed The Deserted Village ...”, p.23

All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them.

Oliver Goldsmith
Love, Faults, One Love
'The Good-Natured Man' (1768) act 1

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Children, Men, Good Man
Oliver Goldsmith (1806). “The Poetical Works”, p.31

While Resignation gently slopes away, And all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the world be past.

Oliver Goldsmith
Past, Heaven, World
Oliver Goldsmith (1841). “Goldsmith's miscellaneous works”, p.7

He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.

Oliver Goldsmith
Friendship, Popularity, Casts
Oliver Goldsmith (1842). “The Select Works of Oliver Goldsmith: In One Volume. With the Portrait of the Author..”, p.217

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Night, Caps, Brows
Oliver Goldsmith (1825). “Letters from a Citizen of the World to His Friends in the East”, p.94

The whitewash'd wall, the nicely sanded floor, The varnish'd clock that click'd behind the door; The chest, contriv'd a double debt to pay,- A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day.

Oliver Goldsmith
Wall, Night, Doors
Oliver Goldsmith (1805). “The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Etc”, p.32

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Hurt, Healthy, Ruffles
Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “The works of Oliver Goldsmith. 1: Poetical works; Dramas; The vicar of Wakefield”, p.58

Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.

Oliver Goldsmith
Wisdom, Doubt, Mirth
Oliver Goldsmith (1856). “The Works of Oliver Goldsmith: Comprising His Poems, Comedies, Essays, and Vicar of Wakefield”, p.27

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Time, Towns, Faster
Oliver Goldsmith (1834). “Life. Commendatory verses. Poems. Plays. Letters. Memorandums of agreement between Dr. Goldsmith and Thomas Davies, bookseller”, p.234

Alike all ages. Dames of ancient days Have led their children through the mirthful maze, And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore, Has frisk'd beneath the burden of threescore.

Oliver Goldsmith
Children, Gay, Skills
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.222

Both wit and understanding are trifles without integrity.

Oliver Goldsmith
Integrity, Understanding, Ethics
Oliver Goldsmith (1803). “The Beauties of Goldsmith, Or, The Complete Treasury of Genius: To which is Prefixed the Life of the Author”, p.106

Crime generally punishes itself.

Oliver Goldsmith
Crime

The malicious sneer is improperly called laughter.

Oliver Goldsmith
Laughter, Malicious, Sneer
Oliver Goldsmith, Sir James Prior (1837). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M. B.: Including a Variety of Pieces”, p.133

It seemed to me pretty plain, that they had more of love than matrimony in them.

Oliver Goldsmith
Love, Matrimony
'The Vicar of Wakefield' (1766) ch. 16

Good counsel rejected returns to enrich the givers bosom.

Oliver Goldsmith
Return, Giver, Rejected
Oliver Goldsmith (1837). “The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M. B.: Including a Variety of Pieces”, p.149

Vain, very vain, my weary search to find That bliss which only centers in the mind.

Oliver Goldsmith
Happiness, Mind, Vain
"Collected Works".

[T]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by means of volcanoes, those burning mountains that seem to discharge their materials from the lowest abysses of the earth.

Oliver Goldsmith
Mean, Science, Volcanoes
Oliver Goldsmith (1825). “A History of the Earth: And Animated Nature”, p.26

The very pink of perfection.

Oliver Goldsmith
Perfection
She Stoops to Conquer act 1 (1773)

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

Oliver Goldsmith
Teacher, Morning, Teaching
'The Deserted Village' (1770) l. 197

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