In this recording from the Pearls of Practical Philosophy series of Sunday Wisdom Sessions, Sudhakar analyses “The Village Preacher” - an extract from Oliver Goldsmith’s long poem The Deserted Village.

Goldsmith portrays The Village Preacher as the very embodiment of an ideal human being. His life is rooted in service — uplifting the poor, comforting the troubled, and giving freely of his time and compassion. Duty never weighed on him; instead, he embraced it with empathy and warmth, extending his care equally to all who crossed his path. His selflessness became a guiding light, a quiet beacon for the community.

Goldsmith crowns this portrait with a striking metaphor. He likens the preacher to a mighty cliff towering above the valley. The cliff rises into the skies, its breast untouched by storms or rain, while sunlight glows endlessly at its peak. In the same way, the preacher’s heart held the emotions and struggles of those around him, yet his intellect remained serene, unshaken, and attuned to a higher Reality.