Oliver Goldsmith
Fine declamation does not consist in flowery periods, delicate allusions of musical cadences, but in a plain, open, loose style, where the periods are long and obvious, where the same thought is often exhibited in several points of view.Collection: Views
Blest be those feasts, with simple plenty crowned, Where all the ruddy family around Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale.Collection: Simple
Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of livingCollection: Age
There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher. Fontenelle says he would undertake to persuade the whole public of readers to believe that the sun was neither the cause of light or heat, if he could only get six philosophers on his side.Collection: Philosophy
To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.Collection: Pleasure
But winter lingering chills the lap of May.Collection: Winter
To the last moment of his breath, On hope the wretch relies; And even the pang preceding death Bids expectation rise.Collection: Hope
A volcano may be considered as a cannon of immense size.Collection: Volcanoes
That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.Collection: Virtue
Hope, like the gleaming taperCollection: Hope
The mind is ever ingenious in making its own distress.Collection: Science
In two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.Collection: Two
A boy will learn more true wisdom in a public school in a year than by a private education in five. It is not from masters, but from their equals, that youth learn a knowledge of the world.Collection: School
We seldom speak of the virtue which we have, but much oftener of that which we lack.Collection: Speak
When a person has no need to borrow they find multitudes willing to lend.Collection: Needs
There is nothing magnanimous in bearing misfortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is looking on.... He who, without friends to encourage or even without hope to alleviate his misfortunes, can behave with tranquility and indifference, is truly great.Collection: Strength
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.Collection: Powerful
One should not quarrel with a dog without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.Collection: Dog
To a philosopher no circumstance, however trifling, is too minute.Collection: Philosophy
The English laws punish vice; the Chinese laws do more, they reward virtue.Collection: Funny
The first blow is half the battle.Collection: Blow
An Englishman fears contempt more than death.Collection: Contempt
Ridicule has always been the enemy of enthusiasm, and the only worthy opponent to ridicule is success.Collection: Enemy
Silence gives consent.Collection: Inspirational
No one but a fool would measure their satisfaction by what the world thinks of it.Collection: Thinking
The ingratitude of the world can never deprive us of the conscious happiness of having acted with humanity ourselves.Collection: Humanity
The first time I read an excellent book, it is to me just as if I had gained a new friend. When I read a book over I have perused before, it resembles the meeting with an old one.Collection: Friendship
Little things are great to little men.Collection: Men
The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.Collection: Lasts
In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd the gazing rustics rang'd around; And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew.Collection: Learning
Whatever the skill of any country may be in the sciences, it is from its excellence in polite learning alone that it must expect a character from posterity.Collection: Country
Of all kinds of ambition, that which pursues poetical fame is the wildestCollection: Ambition
Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog And in that town a dog was found, As many dogs there be, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree.Collection: Dog
The man recovered of the bite, The dog it was that died.Collection: Dog
A flattering painter, who made it his care To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.Collection: Men
Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.Collection: Wisdom
Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.Collection: Wisdom
When we take a slight survey of the surface of our globe a thousand objects offer themselves which, though long known, yet still demand our curiosity.Collection: Long
And as a bird each fond endearment tries To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies, He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.Collection: Art
To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm, than all the gloss of art.Collection: Art
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.Collection: Flames
Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.Collection: Children
While Resignation gently slopes away, And all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the world be past.Collection: Past
He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.Collection: Friendship
A night-cap deck'd his brows instead of bay,- A cap by night, a stocking all the day.Collection: Night
To aim at excellence, our reputation, and friends, and all must be ventured; to aim at the average we run no risk and provide little service.Collection: Running
The pictures placed for ornament and use, The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.Collection: Gambling