It has been remarked that almost every character which has excited either attention or pity has owed part of its success to merit, and part to a happy concurrence of circumstances in its favor. Had Caesar or Cromwell exchanged countries, the one might have been a sergeant and the other an exciseman.


The miscellaneous works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. Containing all his essays and poems (ed. 1789)

Oliver Goldsmith Quotes

It has been remarked that almost every character which has excited either attention or pity has owed part of its success to merit, and part to a...

It has been remarked that almost every character which has excited either attention or pity has owed part of its success to merit, and part to a...

It has been remarked that almost every character which has excited either attention or pity has owed part of its success to merit, and part to a...

It has been remarked that almost every character which has excited either attention or pity has owed part of its success to merit, and part to a...