Quote

Wit generally succeeds more from being happily addressed than from its native poignancy. A jest, calculated to spread at a gaming-table, may be received with, perfect indifference should it happen to drop in a mackerel-boat.

Oliver Goldsmith

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Oliver Goldsmith
Age: 43 †
Born: 1730
Born: November 10
Died: 1774
Died: April 4
Dramaturge
Essayist
Literary Critic
Novelist
Physician
Physician Writer
Playwright
Poet
Polygraph
Theatrical Producer
Writer
Elphin
County Roscommon
Oliver Goldsmit
Doctor Goldsmith
Oliverio Goldsmith
Oliverus Goldsmith
Olver Goldsmith
Olivier Goldsmith
Dottor Golssmith
Tom Telescope
Solomon Winlove
James Willington
Author of the Vicar of Wakefield
Dr Goldsmith
Inspired Idiot
Calculated
Happens
Boat
Succeeds
May
Table
Happily
Tables
Mackerel
Generally
Wit
Poignancy
Spread
Received
Gaming
Succeed
Indifference
Addressed
Happen
Native
Jest
Perfect
Drop

More quotes by Oliver Goldsmith

Image
One should not quarrel with a dog without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind pass by.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
To the last moment of his breath, On hope the wretch relies And even the pang preceding death Bids expectation rise.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
The more various our artificial necessities, the wider is our circle of pleasure for all pleasure consists in obviating necessities as they rise luxury, therefore, as it increases our wants, increases our capacity for happiness
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
It has been well observed that few are better qualified to give others advice than those who have taken the least of it themselves.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And we shall never, never part, My life-my all that's mine!
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
The ambitious are forever followed by adulation for they receive the most pleasure from flattery.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Our chief comforts often produce our greatest anxieties, and the increase in our possessions is but an inlet to new disquietudes.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Prudery is ignorance.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
In proportion as society refines, new books must ever become more necessary.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Pity and friendship are two passions incompatible with each other.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
Measures, not men, have always been my mark.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
The life of a scholar seldom abounds with adventure.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
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.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
We seldom speak of the virtue which we have, but much oftener of that which we lack.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
O friendship! thou fond soother of the human breast, to thee we fly in every calamity to thee the wretched seek for succor on thee the care-tired son of misery fondly relies from thy kind assistance the unfortunate always hopes relief, and may be sure of--disappointment.
Oliver Goldsmith
Image
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.
Oliver Goldsmith