Oliver Goldsmith quotes

Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent, it seldom has justice enough to accuse.

I have known many of those pretended champions for liberty in my time, yet do I not remember one that was not in his heart and in his family a tyrant.’

What they may then expect, may be seen by turning our eyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice, where the laws govern the poor, and the rich govern the law.

I armed her against the censures of the world, shewed her that books were sweet unreproaching companions to the miserable, and that if they could not bring us to enjoy life, they would at least teach us to endure it.

As the reputation of books is raised not by their freedom from defect, but the greatness of their beauties; so should that of men be prized not for their exemption from fault, but the size of those virtues they are possessed of.

What we place most hopes upon, generally proves most fatal.

Near a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their affliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow.

Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities.

At this he laughed, and so did we:—the jests of the rich are ever successful.

We are not to judge of the feelings of others by what we might feel if in their place. However dark the habitation of the mole to our eyes, yet the animal itself finds the apartment sufficiently lightsome.

I fancy, Charles, you’re right: the first blow is half the battle.

Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain With grammar, and nonsense, and learning, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives GENUS a better discerning.

I have seen her and sister cry over a book for an hour together; and they said they liked the book the better the more it made them cry.

I have been but an observer upon life, madam, while others were enjoying it.