Best 314 quotes of Oliver Goldsmith on MyQuotes

A book may be very amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity.

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.

Absence, like death, sets a seal on the image of those we love: we cannot realize the intervening changes which time may have effected.

A flattering painter, who made it his care To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.

A French woman is a perfect architect in dress: she never, with Gothic ignorance, mixes the orders; she never tricks out a snobby Doric shape with Corinthian finery; or, to speak without metaphor, she conforms to general fashion only when it happens not to be repugnant to private beauty.

Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living

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.

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

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

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.

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

All is not gold that glitters, Pleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters

All that a husband or wife really wants is to be pitied a little, praised a little, and appreciated a little.

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

All the sciences are, in some measure, linked with each other, and before the one is ended, the other begins.

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

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 a vagabond.

Amid thy desert-walks the lapwing flies, And tires their echoes with unvaried cries.

A mind too vigorous and active, serves only to consume the body to which it is joined.

A modest woman, dressed out in all her finery, is the most tremendous object of the whole creation.

And as a bird each fond endearment tries To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies, He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.

And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.

And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.

And learn the luxury of doing good.

And the weak soul, within itself unbless'd, Leans for all pleasure on another's breast.

And what is friendship but a name, A charm that lulls to sleep, A shade that follows wealth or fame, And leaves the wretch to weep?

An emperor in his nightcap will not meet with half the respect of an emperor with a crown.

An Englishman fears contempt more than death.

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

Aromatic plants bestow no spicy fragrance while they grow; but crush'd or trodden to the ground, diffuse their balmy sweets around.

As boys should be educated with temperance, so the first greatest lesson that should be taught them is to admire frugality. It is by the exercise of this virtue alone they can ever expect to be useful members of society.

As few subjects are more interesting to society, so few have been more frequently written upon than the education of youth.

As for disappointing them I should not so much mind; but I can't abide to disappoint myself.

As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure; but there's no love lost between us.

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.

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies.

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.

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

As writers become more numerous, it is natural for readers to become more indolent; whence must necessarily arise a desire of attaining knowledge with the greatest possible ease.

At night returning, every labour sped, He sits him down, the monarch of a shed; Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys His children's looks, that brighten at the blaze; While his lov'd partner, boastful of her hoard, Displays her cleanly platter on the board.

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

A volcano may be considered as a cannon of immense size.

Be not affronted at a joke. If one throw salt at thee, thou wilt receive no harm, unless thou art raw.

Blame where you must, be candid where you can, And be each critic the Good-natured Man.

Blest that abode, where want and pain repair, And every stranger finds a ready chair.

Blest be that spot, where cheerful guests retire To pause from toil, and trim their evening fire; Blest that abode, where want and pain repair, And every stranger finds a ready chair Blest be those feasts with simple plenty crown'd, Where all the ruddy family around Laugh at the jest or pranks, that never fail, Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale, Or press the bashful stranger to his food, And learn the luxury of doing good.

Blest be those feasts, with simple plenty crowned, Where all the ruddy family around Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale.

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.

Both wit and understanding are trifles without integrity; it is that which gives value to every character. The ignorant peasant, without fault, is greater than the philosopher with many; for what is genius or courage without a heart?

Both wit and understanding are trifles without integrity.