--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life has been compared to a race, but the…" description: "\"Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png" --- # Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion… ![“Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to stray from the course. Great abilities have always been less serviceable to the possessors than moderate ones.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png) > “Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to stray from the course. Great abilities have always been less serviceable to the possessors than moderate ones.” [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's talents are unpredictable; great abilities often bring challenges and can lead one astray. **In simple terms:** Great abilities can be hard to manage and may cause problems. Key Takeaway Balance talent with humility. Themes talent humility self‑management Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career advancement - leadership roles - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep modest while using your talents? - What habits help you stay grounded? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on talent can cause neglect of other skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abilities Serviceable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities-serviceable-2753413/) [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Allusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allusion/) [Great Abilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-abilities-2053127/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Compared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-compared-823289/) [Observing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observing/) [Possessors Moderate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessors-moderate-2753412/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Serviceable Possessors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serviceable-possessors-2753414/) ## Related quotes > [Fine declamation does not consist in flowery periods, delicate allusions of musical cadences, but in a plain, open, loose style, where the periods are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/fine-declamation-does-not-consist-in-flowery-periods-delicate/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the badges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/paltry-affectation-strained-allusions-and-disgusting-finery-are/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“With great abilities come great responsibilities; great power comes with great assignments. With great age comes great reasoning; great actions come great experience. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/with-great-abilities-come-great-responsibilities-great-power-comes/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [God gave me great abilities. I'm in a position where I have to take advantage of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/god-gave-me-great-abilities-i-m-in-a-position-where-i-have-to-take/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/great-abilities-are-not-requisite-for-an-historian-for-in-historical-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Antony: I backed him for a long time. I know his abilities and he has great abilities. When he plays like I know from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/antony-i-backed-him-for-a-long-time-i-know-his-abilities-and-he-has/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Genius and great abilities are often wanting; sometimes, only opportunities. Some deserve praise for what they have done; others for what they would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/genius-and-great-abilities-are-often-wanting-sometimes-only/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [It is not unusual to hear a religious leader, a philosopher, or a poet refer to man as having a divine spark within him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/it-is-not-unusual-to-hear-a-religious-leader-a-philosopher-or-a-poet/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“These opportunities, then, gave these men the chance they needed, and their great abilities made them recognize it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machiavelli-niccolo/these-opportunities-then-gave-these-men-the-chance-they-needed-and/) [Machiavelli Niccolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machiavelli-niccolo/) > [God gave me such great abilities, and sometimes that's a strength and sometimes it's not a strength. It's just the way it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/god-gave-me-such-great-abilities-and-sometimes-that-s-a-strength-and/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [I can also be very happy in this life, but it's usually happiness that I get from other lives I've lived and other dimensions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/i-can-also-be-very-happy-in-this-life-but-it-s-usually-happiness-that/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [“Have you ever been in jail, mate? Whatever you did in your life, nothing can be compared to a single day in jail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/have-you-ever-been-in-jail-mate-whatever-you-did-in-your-life-nothing/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [It is nothing, to give one’s life for Ireland. I’m not the first and maybe I won’t be the last. What’s my life compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-barry/it-is-nothing-to-give-one-s-life-for-ireland-i-m-not-the-first-and/) [Kevin Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-barry/) > [“This is what I'm saying; you hate your life. But you don't know what life is. Life is too huge for you to possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/this-is-what-i-m-saying-you-hate-your-life-but-you-don-t-know-what/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“The Transitoriness of Life To what may man's life be compared? To a boat which rowed away, Far in the sea, and left no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reiko-chiba/the-transitoriness-of-life-to-what-may-man-s-life-be-compared-to-a/) [Reiko Chiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reiko-chiba/) ## More by Oliver Goldsmith > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [How happy he who crowns in shades like these, A youth of labour with an age of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/how-happy-he-who-crowns-in-shades-like-these-a-youth-of-labour-with/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and the other with a wooden ladle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/one-man-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-and-the-other-with-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/he-cast-off-his-friends-as-a-huntsman-his-pack-for-he-knew-when-he/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/even-children-follow-d-with-endearing-wile-and-pluck-d-his-gown-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe that the concatenation of self-existence, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-premises-being-thus-settled-i-proceed-to-observe-that-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/truth-from-his-lips-prevailed-with-double-sway-and-fools-who-came-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-what-fortuitous-occurrence-do-we-not-owe-every-pleasure-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [ \[T\]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles-which-are-hidden-from-our/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/like-the-bee-we-should-make-our-industry-our-amusement/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/age-that-lessens-the-enjoyment-of-life-increases-our-desire-of-living/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And we shall never, never part, My life-my all that's mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/thus-let-me-hold-thee-to-my-heart-and-every-care-resign-and-we-shall/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/here-lies-david-garrick-describe-me-who-can-an-abridgment-of-all-that/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) [Explore all 375 Oliver Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to stray from the course. Great abilities have always been less serviceable to the possessors than moderate ones.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Goldsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the-allusion-improves-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the-allusion-improves-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_ability_life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the_1893881.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually…” — Oliver Goldsmith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oliver Goldsmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Life has been compared to a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the-allusion-improves-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the-allusion-improves-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```