There is no waste of time in life like that of making explanations.
A majority is always better than the best repartee.
An author who speaks about their own books is almost as bad as a mother who speaks about her own children.
The services in wartime are fit only for desperadoes, but in peace are only fit for fools.
The very phrase ‘foreign affairs’ makes an Englishman convinced that I am about to treat of subjects with which he has no concern.
What is earnest is not always true; on the contrary, error is often more earnest than truth.
When a man fell into his anecdotage it was a sign for him to retire from the world.
William Gladstone has not a single redeeming defect.
The right honourable gentleman caught the Whigs bathing, and walked away with their clothes. He has left them in the full enjoyment of their liberal positions, and he is himself a strict conservative of their garments.
A man may speak very well in the House of Commons, and fail very completely in the House of Lords. There are two distinct styles requisite: I intend, in the course of my career, if I have time, to give a specimen of both.
The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell into the Thames, it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity.
Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.
The pursuit of science leads only to the insoluble.
The people of England are the most enthusiastic in the world.
Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.
He was distinguished for ignorance; for he had only one idea, and that was wrong.
I have been ever of opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.
If you’re not very clever you should be conciliatory.
Increased means and increased leisure are the two civilizers of man.
Nine-tenths of the existing books are nonsense and the clever books are the refutation of that nonsense.