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
philosophy add care
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 virtue prudence
Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue.
opposites two opinion
In two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.
country men cities
I have visited many countries, and have been in cities without number, yet never did I enter a town which could not produce ten or twelve little great men; all fancying themselves known to the rest of the world, and complimenting each other upon their extensive reputation.
marriage thinking done
You, that are going to be married, think things can never be done too fast: but we that are old, and know what we are about, must elope methodically, madam.
peppers callous please
Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.
adventure scholar
The life of a scholar seldom abounds with adventure.
giving answers ask-me
If you don't ask me questions, I can't give you an untrue answer.
students pleasure unspeakable
There is unspeakable pleasure attending the life of a voluntary student.
powerful army soul
The soul may be compared to a field of battle, where the armies are ready every moment to encounter. Not a single vice but has a more powerful opponent, and not one virtue but may be overborne by a combination of vices.
addresses sincerity silent
A silent address is the genuine eloquence of sincerity.
blow battle firsts
The first blow is half the battle.
winter rocks mountain
No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array, But winter lingering chills the lap of May; No zephyr fondly sues the mountain's breast, But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest.
fashion art joy
And e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart distrusting asks if this be joy.