Lord of
Lord of
silence speech stationery
Many things are better for silence than for speech: others are better for speech than for stationery.
law america england
In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.
philosophy light political
The epoch of doubt and transition during which the Greeks passed from the dim fancies of mythology to the fierce light of science was the age of Pericles, and the endeavour to substitute certain truth for the prescriptions of impaired authorities, which was then beginning to absorb the energies of the Greek intellect, is the grandest movement in the profane annals of mankind, for to it we owe, even after the immeasurable progress accomplished by Christianity, much of our philosophy and far the better part of the political knowledge we possess.
justice mercy temper
Be generous before you are just. Do not temper mercy with justice.
errors judgment standards
Every error pronounces judgment on itself when it attempts to apply its rules to the standard of truth.
absolute-power absolutes
Absolute power demoralizes.
men water mark
A man can be trusted only up to low-water mark.
fighting evil giving
The State is competent to assign duties and draw the line between good and evil only in its immediate sphere. Beyond the limits of things necessary for its well-being, it can only give indirect help to fight the battle of life by promoting the influences which prevail against temptation--religion, education, and the distribution of wealth.
might should thread
A history that should pursue all the subtle threads from end to end might be eminently valuable, but not as a tribute to peace and conciliation.
art lasts criminals
When the last of the Reformers died, religion, instead of emancipating the nations, had become an excuse for the criminal art of despots. Calvin preached, and Bellarmine lectured; but Machiavelli reigned.
tasks ends my-time
I have reached the end of my time, and have hardly come to the beginning of my task.
ideas envy independence
The idea that the object of constitutions is not to confirm the predominance of any interest, but to prevent it; to preserve with equal care the independence of labour and the security of property; to make the rich safe against envy, and the poor against oppression, marks the highest level attained by the statesmanship of Greece.
christian philosophy reflection
Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible tradition of antiquity. Something was wanted, beyond all the gifts of reflection and experience -- a faculty of self government and self control, developed like its language in the fibre of a nation, and growing with its growth.
character judging talent
Judge talent at its best and character at its worst.