523 Quotes by Oliver Goldsmith

When any one of our relations was found to be a person of a very bad character, a troublesome guest, or one we desired to get rid of, upon his leaving my house I ever took care to lend him a riding-coat, or a pair of boots, or sometimes a horse of small value, and I always had the satisfaction of finding he never came back to return them.

The English laws punish vice; the Chinese laws do more, they reward virtue.

You will always find that those are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or not merit of their own to depend on . . .

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

When a person has no need to borrow they find multitudes willing to lend.

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

Nothing is so contemptible as that affectation of wisdom, which some display, by universal incredulity.

I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.

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