That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce…

That virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.

Sourced, The Vicar of Wakefield
(1766)

Ch. 5

Other Oliver Goldsmith Quotes

Where village statesmen talked with looks profound,
And news much older than their ale went round. - View Quote Details on Where village statesmen talked with looks profound,
And news much older…
I’ll be with you in the squeezing of a lemon. - View Quote Details on I’ll be with you in the squeezing of a lemon.
As writers become more numerous, it is natural for readers to become more indolent. - View Quote Details on As writers become more numerous, it is natural for readers…
In my time, the follies of the town crept slowly among us, but now they travel faster than a stagecoach. - View Quote Details on In my time, the follies of the town crept slowly…
Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt;
It’s like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt. - View Quote Details on Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt;
It’s like…
The whitewashed wall, the nicely sanded floor,
The varnished clock that clicked behind the door;
The chest contrived a double debt to pay,
A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day. - View Quote Details on The whitewashed wall, the nicely sanded floor,
The varnished clock that…
Her modest looks the cottage might adorn,
Sweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn. - View Quote Details on Her modest looks the cottage might adorn,
Sweet as the primrose…
Where’er I roam, whatever realms I see,
My heart untraveled fondly turns to thee;
Still to my brother turns with ceaseless pain,
And drags at each remove a lengthening chain. - View Quote Details on Where’er I roam, whatever realms I see,
My heart untraveled fondly…
The first blow is half the battle. - View Quote Details on The first blow is half the battle.
In arguing too, the parson owned his skill,
For e’en though vanquished, he could argue still;
While words of learned length, and thundering sound
Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around;
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew. - View Quote Details on In arguing too, the parson owned his skill,
For e’en though…