Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford— also known as Horace Walpole — was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionHistorian
Date of Birth24 September 1717
silly discovery serendipity
Serendipity... You will understand it better by the derivation than by the definition. I once read a silly fairy tale, called 'The Three Princes of Serendip': as their Highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of.
degenerates ancestor posterity
Posterity always degenerates till it becomes our ancestors.
passion liberty sound
If a passion for freedom is not in vogue, patriots may sound the alarm till they are weary. The Act of Habeas Corpus, by which prisoners may insist on being brought to trial within a limited time, is the corner stone of our liberty.
suffering tragedy delay
A tragedy can never suffer by delay: a comedy may, because the allusions or the manners represented in it maybe temporary.
spring hate men
My aversion to them...springs from the perniciousness of that sect to society-I hate Papists, as a man, not as a Protestant. If Papists were only enemies to the religion of other men, I should overlook their errors. As they are foes to liberty, I cannot forgive them.
governors supreme
Our supreme governors, the mob.
romance
History is a romance that is believed; romance, a history that is not believed.
planning conquer easier
It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.
happiness believe earth
I firmly believe, notwithstanding all our complaints, that almost every person upon earth tastes upon the totality more happiness than misery.
forgiving benefits injury
I can forgive injuries, but never benefits.
wise firsts events
The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.
methodists bigs subjects
The Methodists love your big sinners, as proper subjects to work upon.
dots ink misery
It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.
hours found theme
I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.