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...
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.
greatness men age
It is the age that forms the man, not the man that forms the age.
greatness mind pay
Great minds do indeed react on the society which has made them what they are; but they only pay with interest what they have received.
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.