Thomas B. Macaulay
Thomas B. Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay, PCwas a British historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer; his books on British history have been hailed as literary masterpieces. He was a member of the Babington family by virtue of his aunt's marriage to Thomas Babington...
strength character blue
We hardly know an instance of the strength and weakness of human nature so striking and so grotesque as the character of this haughty, vigilant, resolute, sagacious blue-stocking, half Mithridates and half Trissotin, bearing up against a world in arms, with an ounce of poison in one pocket and a quire of bad verses in the other.
character mean office
Office of itself does much to equalize politicians. It by no means brings all characters to a level; but it does bring high characters down and low characters up towards a common standard.
drama character sight
The business of the dramatist is to keep himself out of sight, and to let nothing appear but his characters. As soon as he attracts notice to his personal feelings, the illusion is broken.
character mean greatness
Those who have read history with discrimination know the fallacy of those panegyrics and invectives which represent individuals as effecting great moral and intellectual revolutions, subverting established systems, and imprinting a new character on their age. The difference between one man and another is by no means so great as the superstitious crowd suppose.
character passion prejudice
Our estimate of a character always depends much on the manner in which that character affects our own interests and passions.
character evil despair
A vice sanctioned by the general opinion is merely a vice. The evil terminates in itself. A vice condemned by the general opinion produces a pernicious effect on the whole character. The former is a local malady; the latter, constitutional taint. When the reputation of the offender is lost, he too often flings the remainder of his virtue after it in despair.
drama real character
The real object of the drama is the exhibition of human character.
days few last novel produce satisfied shall tables unless
I shall not be satisfied unless I produce something that shall for a few days supersede the last fashionable novel on the tables of young ladies.
confusion would-be behinds
Was none who would be foremost To lead such dire attack; But those behind cried "Forward!" And those before cried "Back!
history ends novel
History begins in novel and ends in essay.
drew great hate lord love poetry system wife
From the poetry of Lord Byron they drew a system of ethics, compounded of misanthropy and voluptuousness, in which the two great commandments were, to hate your neighbor, and to love your neighbor's wife
bind chains kings links
Obadiah Bind - their - kings - in - chains - and -their - nobles - with - links - of - iron.
action few foolish greece poor seven single time uttered wise
Few of the many wise apothegms, which have been uttered from the time of the seven sages of Greece to that of poor Richard, have prevented a single foolish action
bridge either hand stand
Now who will stand on either hand / And keep the bridge with me?