We public men play a part which places us much in view of our countrymen, but the words which we speak have wings and fly away and disappear....
John Morley: “We public men play a part which places us much in view of our countrymen, but the words which we speak have wings and…”
Editor's note · Context
Morley comments on the fleeting nature of political speech compared to lasting literary contributions.
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If I were going to remain Indian Secretary for some time to come, my every effort would be devoted to an abatement of that enormous amount of writing.
But we have no right to cast on him any responsibility beyond what is strictly military.
What I endeavoured to show was that King George III., without changing his opinion of the justice of his war against the colonies, was obliged to give it up on account of a change of public opinion, and was not open to blame for so doing.
To stint Ireland in power which might be necessary or desirable for the management of matters purely Irish, would be a great error; and if she was so stinted, the end that any such measure might contemplate could not be attained.





