Our bounty, like a drop of water, disappears, when diffus'd too widely Oliver Goldsmith More Quotes by Oliver Goldsmith More Quotes From Oliver Goldsmith In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd the gazing rustics rang'd around; And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew. Oliver Goldsmith learning skills sound Whatever the skill of any country may be in the sciences, it is from its excellence in polite learning alone that it must expect a character from posterity. Oliver Goldsmith learning character country A mind too vigorous and active, serves only to consume the body to which it is joined. Oliver Goldsmith active body mind The dog, to gain some private ends, Oliver Goldsmith mad dog men You will always find that those are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or not merit of their own to depend on . . . Oliver Goldsmith merit littles war Embosom'd in the deep where Holland lies. Methinks her patient sons before me stand, Where the broad ocean leans against the land. Oliver Goldsmith ocean lying son Wisdom makes a slow defense against trouble, though a sure one in the end. Oliver Goldsmith defense trouble wisdom Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man. Oliver Goldsmith describe-me men lying All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them. Oliver Goldsmith faults one-love love I always get the better when I argue alone. Oliver Goldsmith sarcasm sarcastic funny That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel. Oliver Goldsmith sentinels guarded virtue They please, are pleas'd, they give to get esteem Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem. Oliver Goldsmith please ambition giving The way to acquire lasting esteem is not by the fewness of a writer's faults, but the greatness of his beauties, and our noblest works are generally most replete with both. Oliver Goldsmith style greatness way Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living Oliver Goldsmith increase age desire Fear guides more to their duty than gratitude; for one man who is virtuous from the love of virtue, from the obligation he thinks he lies under to the Giver of all, there are ten thousand who are good only from their apprehension of punishment. Oliver Goldsmith gratitude men lying Logicians have but ill defined As rational the human mind; Reason, they say, belongs to man, But let them prove it if they can. Oliver Goldsmith mind men science Hope, like the gleaming taper Oliver Goldsmith hope If we do not find happiness in the present moment, in what shall we find it? Oliver Goldsmith moments ifs happiness True genius walks along a line, and, perhaps, our greatest pleasure is in seeing it so often near falling, without being ever actually down. Oliver Goldsmith lines genius fall I have visited many countries, and have been in cities without number, yet never did I enter a town which could not produce ten or twelve little great men; all fancying themselves known to the rest of the world, and complimenting each other upon their extensive reputation. Oliver Goldsmith cities men country