Political Quotes

John Morley: As if, when a shipmaster had done all he could for safety, and fitted his vessel with everything to make her…

On the record
As if, when a shipmaster had done all he could for safety, and fitted his vessel with everything to make her weathertight, then when he meets a storm and all his tackle strains and labours until it is torn to pieces, we should blame him for the wreck.
Said by
John Morley

Editor's note · Context

Morley uses a metaphor of a shipmaster to illustrate the unfairness of blaming someone for failure after all precautions have been taken.

Share

More from John Morley

The general situation in Egypt had latterly become one in which everything was governed by sheer military violence.

gutenberg.org

With a few exceptions, a political speech like the manna in the wilderness loses its savour on the second day.

gutenberg.org

But they were barren of any institutions by which the country could be governed and kept in prosperity for the future.”(166) This is a statement of the case that biographer and historian alike should ponder.

gutenberg.org

What I expect is a healthful, slow fermentation in many minds, working towards the final product.

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation