John Morley

My grief is sincere and deep, but it is at the whole thing, so ruinous in its consequences as they concern faith.

In my view, the size of the minority, though important, is not nearly so important as the question whether there will be a minority at all.

The whole proceeding has been monstrous, and it will hereafter become one of the laughing-stocks of history.

The fanaticism of the middle ages is really sober compared with that of the nineteenth century.” “The proclamation of Infallibility,” he said to Bishop Moriarty, “I must own I look upon as the most portentous (taking them singly), of all…

He has been dispossessed, not for any fault of his own, but because clerical dominion was deemed intolerable.

In the maintenance of the pope and his court, followers and agents, six millions of our fellow-subjects or thereabouts are deeply interested; and they are making demands upon us which we are forced to decline.

What you have said on the subject of ultramontanism and of the mode in which it should be handled, appears to me to be as wise and as good as is possible.

It is really a case for hitting hard, but for hitting the right men.

I am not now going to pretend that either foreign foe or domestic treason can, at the bidding of the court of Rome, disturb these peaceful shores.

The central proposition made a cruel dilemma for a large class of the subjects of the Queen; for the choice assigned to them by assuming stringent logic was between being bad citizens if they submitted to the decree of papal infallibility…

Nor is this work pleasant; but I am as far as possible from repenting of it, as no one else to whom the public would listen saved me the trouble.

I do not think,” he concluded, “I ever can be sorry for what I have done, but I never can cease to be sorry for the necessity of doing it.

The main point is this: that setting aside exceptional circumstances which would have to provide for themselves, my prospective work is not parliamentary.

My ties will be slight to an assembly with whose tendencies I am little in harmony at the present time; nor can I flatter myself that what is called the public out of doors is more sympathetic.

But there is much to be done with the pen, all bearing much on high and sacred ends, for even Homeric study as I view it, is in this very sense of high importance; and what lies beyond this is concerned directly with the great subject of…

For the general business of the country, my ideas and temper are thoroughly out of harmony with the ideas and temper of the day, especially as they are represented in London.

But of the extent of the mischief I do not doubt any more than of its virulence.

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.—EMERSON.

We are reminded how vast a space in our ever-dwindling days is consumed by social invitations and the discovery of polite reasons for evading them.

It is borne in upon us how grievously the burden of man’s lot is aggravated by slovenly dates, illegible signatures, and forgetfulness that writing is something meant to be read.

In the Octagon as in any similar repository we come upon plenty of baffled hopes, chagrin in finding a career really ended, absurd over-estimates of self, over-estimates of the good chances of the world, vexation of those who have chosen…

We may smile, but surely in good-natured sympathy, at the zeal of poor ladies for a post for husbands of unrecognised merit, or at the importunity of younger sons with large families but inadequate means.

Men write accepting posts, all excitement, full of hope and assurance of good work, and then we remember how quickly clouds came and the office ended in failure and torment.

I felt ready to weep when you were treated with so much contumely by your opponent in your former struggle; and yet I rejoiced that you were educating this nation to believe in conscience and truth....

You do not know how those of us regard you, who feel it a joy to live when a premier believes in righteousness.