Oliver Goldsmith quotes

Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish novelist, playwright, and poet, celebrated for works like "The Vicar of Wakefield" and "She Stoops to Conquer." His writing is known for its wit, warmth, and keen observations of society. He became an influential literary figure in 18th-century English literature. Here are 219 of his quotes:

Friendship is a disinterested commerce between equals; love, an abject intercourse between tyrants and slaves.

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.

Oliver Goldsmith

If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales.

Oliver Goldsmith

Law grinds the poor, and rich men rule the law.

Oliver Goldsmith

Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent it seldom has justice enough to accuse.

Oliver Goldsmith

The first blow is half the battle.

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.

Oliver Goldsmith

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

Oliver Goldsmith

Man wants but little here below, nor wants that little long.

Oliver Goldsmith

Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genius a better discerning.

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.

Oliver Goldsmith

Dont let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have so many real ones to encounter.

Oliver Goldsmith

They say women and music should never be dated.

Oliver Goldsmith

Little things are great to little men.

Oliver Goldsmith

Such is the patriot's boast, wherever we roam, His first, best country ever is, at home.

Oliver Goldsmith

He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.

Oliver Goldsmith

The watch-dog's voice that bay'd the whispering wind, And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind.

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.

Oliver Goldsmith

The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, For talking age and whispering lovers made.

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.

Oliver Goldsmith

And e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart distrusting asks if this be joy.

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.

Oliver Goldsmith