Oliver Goldsmith quotes

I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines. (Oliver Goldsmith)
Friendship is a disinterested commerce between equals; love, an abject intercourse between tyrants and slaves. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Hope, like the gleaming taper's light, Adorns and cheers our way And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a brighter ray. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Law grinds the poor, and rich men rule the law. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent it seldom has justice enough to accuse. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
The first blow is half the battle. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting, 'Twas only when he was off, he was acting. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Man wants but little here below, nor wants that little long. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
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? (Oliver Goldsmith)
Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genius a better discerning. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
I was ever of the opinion, that the honest man who married and brought up a large family, did more service than he who continued single, and only talked of population. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Dont let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have so many real ones to encounter. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
They say women and music should never be dated. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Little things are great to little men. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Such is the patriot's boast, wherever we roam, His first, best country ever is, at home. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
The watch-dog's voice that bay'd the whispering wind, And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay; Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade; A breath can make them, as a breath has made; But a bold peasantry, their country's pride, When once destroyed, can never be supplied. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
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. (Oliver Goldsmith)
The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, For talking age and whispering lovers made. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace The day's disasters in his morning face Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he Full well the busy whisper circling round Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd. Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault The village all declar'd how much he knew, 'Twas certain he could write and cipher too. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
And e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart distrusting asks if this be joy. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith
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. View quote
Oliver Goldsmith