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
cynical philosopher ridiculous
There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher.
successful riches wealth
The jests of the rich are ever successful.
dog morality reason
One should not quarrel with a dog without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.
sea solitude
Nobody with me at sea but myself.
giving-up add villainy
Villainy, when detected, never gives up, but boldly adds impudence to imposture.
philosophy philosopher minutes
To a philosopher no circumstance, however trifling, is too minute.
retirement age ease
How blest is he who crowns in shades like these A youth of labour with an age of ease!
simple laughing eating
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.
eye pride lord
Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind pass by.
chains drag length
By every remove I only drag a greater length of chain.
views long musical
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.
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.
home night scotland
What if in Scotland's wilds we viel'd our head, Where tempests whistle round the sordid bed; Where the rug's two-fold use we might display, By night a blanket, and a plaid by day.
hypocrisy care chiefs
Thus 'tis with all; their chief and constant care Is to seem everything but what they are.