Oliver Goldsmith Quotes (212 Quotes)

As a wit, if not first, in the very first line.

Forc'd from their homes, a melancholy train, To traverse climes beyond the western main Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around, And Niagara stuns with thundering sound.

The malicious sneer is improperly called laughter.

Sweet Auburn loveliest village of the plain.

She who makes her husband and her children happy, who reclaims the one from vice, and trains up the other to virtue, is a much greater character than the ladies described in romance, whose whole occupation is to murder mankind with shafts from their

I hate the French because they are all slaves, and wear wooden shoes.

By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd The sports of children satisfy the child.

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

People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy.

As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head.

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

Where village statesmen talk'd with looks profound, And news much older than their ale went round.

And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head should carry all it knew.

Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow, Or by the lazy Scheld or wandering Po.

The man recovered of the bite, The dog it was that died.

To the last moment of his breath, On hope the wretch relies And even the pang preceding death Bids expectation rise.

Good people all, with one accord, Lament for Madam Blaize, Who never wanted a good word From those who spoke her praise.

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.

Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind pass by.

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

In all the silent manliness of grief.

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay.

You, that are going to be married, think things can never be done too fast but we that are old, and know what we are about, must elope methodically, madam.

The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.

Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view.

On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting, 'Twas only when he was off, he was acting.

But in his duty prompt at every call, he watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all.

Crime generally punishes itself.

That's a good girl. I find you are perfectly qualified for making converts, and so go help your mother to make the gooseberry-pie.

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

Still to ourselves in every place consigned, Our own felicity we make or find.

A kind and gentle heart he had, To comfort friends and foes The naked every day he clad When he put on his clothes.

How small, of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.

A traveler of taste will notice that the wise are polite all over the world, but the fool only at home.

We sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhance the value of its favours.

Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see, My heart untravell'd fondly turns to thee Still to my brother turns with ceaseless pain, And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.

He who seeks for applause only from without has all his happiness in another's keeping.

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.

Ceremonies are different in every country, but true politeness is everywhere the same.

Hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill Yet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still.

Handsome is that handsome does.

I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well.

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

Honour sinks where commerce long prevails.

Where wealth accumulates, men decay.

For just experience tells, in every soil, That those that think must govern those that toil.

When lovely woman stoops to folly, and finds too late that men betray, what charm can soothe her melancholy, what art can wash her guilt away?

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.

Hope is such a bait, it covers any hook.

They please, are pleas'd they give to get esteem, Till seeming blest, they grow to what they seem.