Who said “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay.”?

Verified

Oliver Goldsmith. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Deserted Village (1770)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Deserted Village (1770).

APA

Goldsmith, O. (n.d.). Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40313-ill-fares-the-land-to-hastening-ills-a/

MLA

Goldsmith, Oliver. “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40313-ill-fares-the-land-to-hastening-ills-a/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Goldsmith, Oliver. “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/40313-ill-fares-the-land-to-hastening-ills-a/.