Oliver Goldsmith Quotes about Philosophy

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

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

Philosophy can add to our happiness in no other manner but by diminishing our misery; it should not pretend to increase our present stock, but make us economists of what we are possessed of. Happy were we all born philosophers; all born with a talent of thus dissipating our own cares by spreading them upon all mankind.

Oliver Goldsmith

Philosophy, Care, Add

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “Enquiry into the present state of polite learning. The citizen of the world”, p.234

Philosophy ... should not pretend to increase our present stock, but make us economists of what we are possessed of.

Oliver Goldsmith

Philosophy, Increase, Should

Oliver Goldsmith (1854). “Enquiry into the present state of polite learning. The citizen of the world”, p.234

This same philosophy is a good horse in the stable, but an arrant jade on a journey.

Oliver Goldsmith

Horse, Philosophy, Journey

'The Good-Natured Man' (1768) act 1

Religion does what philosophy could never do; it shows the equal dealings of Heaven to the happy and the unhappy, and levels all human enjoyments to nearly the same standard. It gives to both rich and poor the same happiness hereafter, and equal hopes to aspire after it.

Oliver Goldsmith

Philosophy, Giving, Heaven

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.159

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

Philosophy, Believe, Science