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...
religious errors atheism
The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by bigots of all sects, when condensed into a few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.
errors reason said
We cannot absolutely prove that those are in error who tell us that society has reached a turning point, that we have seen our best days. But so said all before us, and with just as much apparent reason.
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?
cent five heard interest natural per
We have heard it said that five per cent is the natural interest of money.
acre utopia
An acre in Middlesex is better than a principality in Utopia
propensity venture
A propensity which, for want of a better name, we will venture to christen Boswellism.
deserted felt peculiar towards whom
He . . . felt towards those whom he had deserted that peculiar malignity which has, in all ages, been characteristic of apostates.
forth gate looked sentinel
The sentinel on Whitehall gate looked forth into the night.