I know men who have been in public office for more than a generation, who have had enormous power and responsibility, to whom the country is indebted for safety and happiness, who never said a foolish thing, and rarely ever when they had the chance failed to do a wise one, who are utterly commonplace.
Hoar describes a group of long-serving public officials who, despite their power, are ultimately unremarkable and commonplace.
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I am afraid they have of late yielded for a time to one strong temptation and missed an opportunity for still greater glory, that never will come back.
His pure and lofty counsel fell unheeded upon the ears of his near neighbors, and the people of Massachusetts did not listen very patiently to lectures on political purity or reform in civil service from New York city.
As it is, the jetties have been of great value and well worth their cost.
You said the people of Lowell would not think very highly of me when they saw me riding through the streets in my carriage and knew it was paid for by the money of this bank.
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