523 Quotes by Oliver Goldsmith

Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came, And the puff a dunce, he mistook it for fame; Till his relish grown callous, almost to displease, Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.

One should not quarrel with a dog without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.

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.

Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue.

In a polite age almost every person becomes a reader, and receives more instruction from the Press than the Pulpit.

And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.

Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine!

In two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.

Turn, gentle Hermit of the Dale, And guide my lonely way To where yon taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray.