True generosity is a duty as indispensably necessary as those imposed on us by law. Oliver Goldsmith More Quotes by Oliver Goldsmith More Quotes From Oliver Goldsmith When any one of our relations was found to be a person of a very bad character, a troublesome guest, or one we desired to get rid of, upon his leaving my house I ever took care to lend him a riding-coat, or a pair of boots, or sometimes a horse of small value, and I always had the satisfaction of finding he never came back to return them. Oliver Goldsmith horsehousecharacter There is unspeakable pleasure attending the life of a voluntary student. Oliver Goldsmith attendingpleasurestudents To be poor, and to seem poor, is a certain method never to rise. Oliver Goldsmith methodpovertypoor It world be well had we more misers than we have among us. Oliver Goldsmith economywellsworld What we say of a thing that has just come in fashion Oliver Goldsmith fashionnamesmen The sports of children satisfy the child. Oliver Goldsmith sportschildren See me, how calm I am. Oliver Goldsmith calumnycalmpeople There are but few talents requisite to become a popular preacher; for the people are easily pleased if they perceive any endeavors in the orator to please them. The meanest qualifications will work this effect if the preacher sincerely sets about it. Oliver Goldsmith endeavortalentpeople Aspiring beggary is wretchedness itself. Oliver Goldsmith beggarywretchedness Popular glory is a perfect coquette; her lovers must toil, feel every inquietude, indulge every caprice, and perhaps at last be jilted into the bargain. True glory, on the other hand, resembles a woman of sense; her admirers must play no tricks. They feel no great anxiety, for they are sure in the end of being rewarded in proportion to their merit. Oliver Goldsmith perfectplayhands The little mind who loves itself, will wr'te and think with the vulgar; but the great mind will be bravely eccentric, and scorn the beaten road, from universal benevolence. Oliver Goldsmith eccentricmindthinking The youth who follows his appetites too soon seizes the cup, before it has received its best ingredients, and by anticipating his pleasures, robs the remaining parts of life of their share, so that his eagerness only produces manhood of imbecility and an age of pain. Oliver Goldsmith cupspainage An emperor in his nightcap will not meet with half the respect of an emperor with a crown. Oliver Goldsmith crownsappearancehalf The volumes of antiquity, like medals, may very well serve to amuse the curious, but the works of the moderns, like the current coin of a kingdom, are much better for immediate use. Oliver Goldsmith usekingdomsmay Error is always talkative. Oliver Goldsmith talkativeerrorstalking Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close, Oliver Goldsmith dogsweetchildren All that philosophy can teach is to be stubborn or sullen under misfortunes. Oliver Goldsmith sullenstubbornphilosophy Religion does what philosophy could never do; it shows the equal dealings of Heaven to the happy and the unhappy, and levels all human enjoyments to nearly the same standard. It gives to both rich and poor the same happiness hereafter, and equal hopes to aspire after it. Oliver Goldsmith givingphilosophyheaven Whichever way we look the prospect is disagreeable. Behind, we have left pleasures we shall never enjoy, and therefore regret; and before, we see pleasures which we languish to possess, and are consequently uneasy till we possess them. Oliver Goldsmith regretlooksway Novels teach the youthful mind to sigh after happiness that never existed. Oliver Goldsmith teachnovelmind