Edmund Burke: “He who has taken a trifle, perhaps as the reward of a good action, is obliged to be silent, when he sees whole nations…”

This idea of a liberal descent inspires us with a sense of habitual native dignity, which prevents that upstart insolence almost inevitably adhering to and disgracing those who are the first acquirers of any distinction.

The engagement and pact of society, which generally goes by the name of the Constitution, forbids such invasion and such surrender.

But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.

Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.