John Morley

Gladstone roused the enthusiasm of his audience to the utmost pitch by declaring that the government would not flinch, that they had passed the Rubicon, broken the bridges, burned their boats.

Lowe asked an unhappy question, that long stood out as a beacon mark in the controversy—whether “if you wanted venality, ignorance, drunkenness—if you wanted impulsive, unreflecting, violent people—where do you look for them?

I came among you an outcast from those with whom I associated, driven from them, I admit, by no arbitrary act, but by the slow and resistless forces of conviction.

And the relation between us has assumed such a form that you can never be my debtors, but that I must for ever be in your debt.

I incline to believe that we too readily accepted our defeat by an infinitesimal majority, as a ground for resignation.

To dissolve would have been a daring act, an appeal from a shuffling parliament to an unawakened people.

Yet it is possible, even probable, that such an appeal, unhesitatingly made, would have evoked a response similar, though not equal, to that of 1831.

The true alternatives were to try either a fresh parliament or a fresh ministry.

Also, I said that in my opinion, from all the miscarriages attending the past history of this question, not ministries alone, and leaders of parties, nor parties alone, but parliament itself and parliamentary government were discredited.

In the hour of defeat I have the presentiment of victory.

Public economy was with Cobden,” he said, “nothing less than a moral principle.

Cobden’s was a mind incapable of entertaining the discussion of a question without fully weighing and estimating its moral aspects and results.

So far as I am concerned, I now leave the wound of the liberal party to the healing powers of nature....

If we cannot arrive in sufficient strength at a definite understanding with respect to the mode of handling the question of the franchise, then our line ought to be great patience and quietude in opposition.

No scenery and no city can stand the stripping off its robe of atmosphere.

But Sèvres plates and all other ’objects’ are of small interest in comparison with the great events that hang as great thick clouds in the heaven around us, yet tipped with broad gleams of light.

This departure of the might of France represented in the garrison, takes a weight off Roman wills and energies, which has for seventeen years bowed them to the ground.

It is a curious proof of the way in which a free and open press has taken hold here, that the newspapers are ordinarily habitually cried in the streets until near midnight!

It seems, he said, as if one of the lamps of learning were put out; much promise for the future extinguished; and a sacred link of union, with the past broken.

If it be asked why Englishmen should speak and feel on this Italian subject, my answer would be this: that the foundation and history of Monte Cassino have the interest for us which the Americans of the States feel in Alfred, in Edward…

Much of my life has been devoted to the promotion of public wealth, and of that vast exterior activity which distinguishes the age; but I am deeply anxious for the preservation of all those centres, not too numerous, at which the power of…

Meanwhile I wish that our press, as far as we may be said to have one, would write on this text: that a bill from them, to be accepted by the people, must be larger, and not smaller, than would have been, or even would be, accepted from us.

For confidence, or credit, stands in politics in lieu of ready money.

If, indeed, your enemy is stronger than you are, you must take what he gives you.

A straightforward bill, such an £8 franchise without tricks, would be easily dealt with.