Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmithwas an Irish novelist, playwright and poet, who is best known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield, his pastoral poem The Deserted Village, and his plays The Good-Natur'd Manand She Stoops to Conquer. He is thought to have written the classic children's tale The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth10 November 1730
CountryIreland
games gambling ornaments
The pictures placed for ornament and use, The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.
book tears cry
They liked the book better the more it made them cry.
flames astonishment lightning
This is that eloquence the ancients represented as lightning, bearing down every opposer; this the power which has turned whole assemblies into astonishment, admiration and awe- - that is described by the torrent, the flame, and every other instance of irresistible impetuosity.
laughing alcohol usual
I can't say whether we had more wit among us now than usual, but I am certain we had more laughing, which answered the end as well.
luxury heaven decree
O Luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree!
oil agreement sugar
Our Garrick 's a salad; for in him we see Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree!
failure long contentment
Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails, And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.
views fleeting
Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view.
thinking justice soil
For just experience tells, in every soil, That those that think must govern those that toil.
sea solitude
Nobody with me at sea but myself.
ignorance stupidity badges
Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the badges of ignorance or of stupidity, whenever it would endeavor to please.
gratitude lying men
Fear guides more to their duty than gratitude; for one man who is virtuous from the love of virtue, from the obligation he thinks he lies under to the Giver of all, there are ten thousand who are good only from their apprehension of punishment.
country heart home
Men may be very learned, and yet very miserable; it is easy to be a deep geometrician, or a sublime astronomer, but very difficult to be a good man. I esteem, therefore, the traveller who instructs the heart, but despise him who only indulges the imagination. 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 only a vagabond.
may poor stills
Though very poor, may still be very blest.