Assistance Quote by Oliver Goldsmith
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Vicar of Wakefield, 1766
Human beings instinctively seek friendship during crises, hoping for comfort and support, yet it can sometimes lead to disappointment.
In simple terms: People turn to friends in trouble, expecting help that may not come.
Key Takeaway
Cherish true friends, but manage expectations.
Themes
friendship
support
vulnerability
disappointment
hope
Mood
reflective
somber
hopeful
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- health emergencies
- financial loss
- emotional distress
Key Concepts
social bonds
emotional reliance
human need
Questions to Reflect On
- Who are your reliable friends in tough times?
- How do you cope when support falls short?
A Different Perspective
Friendship may not always fulfill expectations, leading to hurt.
![“[T]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by means of volcanoes, those burning mountains that seem to discharge their materials from the lowest abysses of the earth.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7d/oliver-goldsmith-772_abyss_t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles_88121.jpg)
![“I'd say that [Louis] Brandeis practiced a kind of a "living originalism," to use the title of Jack Balkin's great book. He said you start with the paradigm case, which in the case of the Fourth Amendment was these general warrants or writs of assistance, but you define it at a level of abstraction…” quote by Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aeb/jeffrey-rosen-13180_abstraction_i-d-say-that-louis-brandeis-practiced-a_73138.jpg)
