“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.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Oliver Goldsmith 134

Irish physician and writer 1728–1774

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