Oliver Goldsmith: Trending quotes (page 3)

“Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done,
Shoulder'd his crutch, and shew'd how fields were won.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 157.

“And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 167.

World , Art , Way , Bird

“As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,—
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 189.

“We are the boys
That fear no noise
Where the thundering cannons roar.”

Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer (1771), Act II

Fear , Boy

“The very pink of perfection.”

Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer (1771), Act I

Perfection

“A modest woman, dressed out in all her finery, is the most tremendous object of the whole creation.”

Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer (1771), Act II

“O Luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree!”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 385.

“The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.”

Oliver Goldsmith book The Vicar of Wakefield

Source: The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), Ch. 17, An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, st. 5.

Dogs , Madness

“The canvas glow'd beyond ev'n Nature warm,
The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form.”

Oliver Goldsmith

Source: The Traveller (1764), Line 137.

Nature

“To men of other minds my fancy flies,
Embosomed in the deep where Holland lies.
Methinks her patient sons before me stand,
Where the broad ocean leans against the land.”

Oliver Goldsmith

Source: The Traveller (1764), Line 281.

Men

“We modest Gentlemen don't want for much success among the women.”

Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer (1771), Act IV

Women , Success

“A book may be very amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity.”

Oliver Goldsmith book The Vicar of Wakefield

Preface.
The Vicar of Wakefield (1766)

Books , Error

“The only art her guilt to cover,
To hide her shame from every eye,
To give repentance to her lover,
And wring his bosom, is — to die.”

Oliver Goldsmith book The Vicar of Wakefield

Source: The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), Ch. 29, Song, st. 2.

Art , Lovers

“Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such,
We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much;
Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind;
Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat
To persuade Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote.
Who too deep for his hearers still went on refining,
And thought of convincing while they thought of dining:
Though equal to all things, for all things unfit;
Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit.”

Oliver Goldsmith

Source: Retaliation (1774), Line 29.

Learning , Universe

“Where village statesmen talked with looks profound,
And news much older than their ale went round.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 223.

“Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth:
If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.”

Oliver Goldsmith

Source: Retaliation (1774), Line 24.

Wisdom , Pleasure

“Oh sir! I must not tell my age.
They say women and music should never be dated.”

Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer (1771), Act III

Women , Age , Music

“I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects too.”

Oliver Goldsmith book The Vicar of Wakefield

Source: The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), Ch. 7.

“To what happy accident is it that we owe so unexpected a visit?”

Oliver Goldsmith book The Vicar of Wakefield

Source: The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), Ch. 19.

Happiness

“A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 141.

Country