--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and…" description: "\"Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.\" — Oliver Goldsmith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png" --- # Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If… ![“Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png) > “Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.” [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. Reason and pleasure, wisdom and mirth can coexist; any flaws are left uncertain, suggesting a balanced life is elusive. **In simple terms:** Balance reason with joy. Key Takeaway Seek harmony between mind and heart. Themes balance joy wisdom Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - relationships - education - decision making - personal development Key Concepts paradox human nature Questions to Reflect On - Can you enjoy pleasure without sacrificing reason? - What does doubt reveal about our virtues? A Different Perspective Perfect balance may be unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-doubt-2100121/) [Mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirth/) [Mirth Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirth-faults-4119721/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-wisdom-1850083/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-pleasure-1345259/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-mirth-4119722/) ## Related quotes > [Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words,-health, peace, and competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/reason-s-whole-pleasure-all-the-joys-of-sense-lie-in-three-words/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“and left no doubt that Cecilia had done violence to herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/and-left-no-doubt-that-cecilia-had-done-violence-to-herself/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [When you are left to doubt yourself, trust God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/when-you-are-left-to-doubt-yourself-trust-god/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left and all the same I doubt everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there-is-no-hope-left-and-all-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I have depended on books not only for pleasure and for the wisdom they bring to all who read, but also for that knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-depended-on-books-not-only-for-pleasure-and-for-the-wisdom/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If there is to be no satisfaction in pleasure, none in wisdom, none in ambition, none in the golden mean, what then? Ah, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-abbott/if-there-is-to-be-no-satisfaction-in-pleasure-none-in-wisdom-none-in/) [Lyman Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-abbott/) > [We may think we live for wisdom, but in fact we're living for the the pleasure wisdom brings us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-skvorecky/we-may-think-we-live-for-wisdom-but-in-fact-we-re-living-for-the-the/) [Josef Skvorecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-skvorecky/) > [“As an aesthetic phenomenon existence is still bearable for us,57 and art furnishes us with eyes and hands and above all the good conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/as-an-aesthetic-phenomenon-existence-is-still-bearable-for-us-57-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [One glance, one word from you gives more pleasure than all the wisdom of this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/one-glance-one-word-from-you-gives-more-pleasure-than-all-the-wisdom/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high, Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye, Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/near-yonder-thorn-that-lifts-its-head-on-high-where-once-the-sign/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Books are never out of humour; never envious or jealous, they answer all questions with readiness; ... they teach us how to live and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/books-are-never-out-of-humour-never-envious-or-jealous-they-answer/) [Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/) > [The common growth of Mother Earth Suffices me,-her tears, her mirth, Her humblest mirth and tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-common-growth-of-mother-earth-suffices-me-her-tears-her-mirth-her/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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 Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Goldsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdom-with-mirth-if-he-had-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdom-with-mirth-if-he-had-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/oliver-goldsmith-772_doubt_who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdo_478643.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.” — 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": "Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdom-with-mirth-if-he-had-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdom-with-mirth-if-he-had-any/#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 } } ] } ```