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I never believe anything that a lawyer says when he has a wig on his head and a fee in his hand. I prepare myself beforehand to regard it all as mere words, supplied at so much the thousand. I know he‘ll say whatever he thinks most likely to forward his own views.

“Not in the least. I have but one ambition.”

“And that is — ?”

“To be the serviceable slave of my country.”

“A master is more serviceable than a slave,” said the old man.

“No; no; I deny it. I can admit much from you, but I cannot admit that. The politician who becomes the master of his country sinks from the statesman to the tyrant.”

“Would that be justice, ladies?” asked the just man.

“It would be success, Mr. Low, — which is a great deal the better thing of the two.”

Many people talk much, and then very many people talk very much more.

He was essentially a truth-speaking man, if only he know how to speak the truth.

All history, all romance, all poetry and all prose, taught him that perseverance in love was generally crowned with success, — that true love rarely was crowned with success except by perseverance.

I doubt whether patriotism can stand the wear and tear and temptation of the front benches in the House of Commons.

People go on quarrelling and fancying this and that, and thinking that the world is full of romance and poetry. When they get married they know better.

He becomes strenuous, energetic, and perhaps eager for what must after all be regarded as success, and at last he fights for a verdict rather than for the truth.

An enemy might at any time become a friend, but while an enemy was an enemy he should be trodden on and persecuted.

“Perhaps I had better tell you the truth, Mr. Gresham.”

“Oh, certainly,” said the Prime Minister, who knew very well that on such occasions nothing could be worse than the telling of disagreeable truths.

He made his point well; but he made it too often. And an attack of that kind, personal and savage in its nature, loses its effect when it is evident that the words have been prepared. A good deal may be done in dispute by calling a man an ass or a knave, — but the resolve to use the words should have been made only at the moment, and they should come hot from the heart.