Harold J. Laski: “I do not understand how England, for instance, can have an end or purpose different from, or opposed to, the end or…”

Where mistakes are made, where there is corruption, or dishonesty, or abuse, it can be brought home forthwith to its authors.

In a time of crisis, particularly, when the things we hold most dear are threatened, we shall find the desire to throw overboard the habits of tolerance, almost irresistible.

But we cannot understand the eighteenth century, or its theories, unless we realize that its temper was still dominantly aristocratic.

Even Lincoln supported his generals in completely indefensible attacks on civilian rights.