John Morley: “If there are no rains this month, the spectre of famine seems to be approaching, and nobody can blame us for that.”

We ought to be able to separate in thought the question of the grounds and evidence for a given dogma being true, from the distinct and purely historic question of the social and intellectual conditions which made men accept it for true.

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.

There lay Ireland,—squalid, dismal, sullen, dull, expectant, sunk deep in hostile intent.

I don't myself believe in artful diplomacy; I have no gift for it.