We must judge a government by its general tendencies and not by its happy accidents. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
Men naturally sympathize with the calamities of individuals; but they are inclined to look on a fallen party with contempt rather than… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
Office of itself does much to equalize politicians. It by no means brings all characters to a level; but it does bring… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
There are countries in which it would be as absurd to establish popular governments as to abolish all the restraints in a… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
It may be laid as an universal rule that a government which attempts more than it ought will perform less. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
Every political sect has its esoteric and its exoteric school--its abstract doctrines for the initiated; its visible symbols, its imposing forms, its… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
Free trade, one of the greatest blessings which a government can confer on a people, is in almost every country unpopular. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
As freedom is the only safeguard of governments, so are order and moderation generally necessary to preserve freedom. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
It is certain that satirical poems were common at Rome from a very early period. The rustics, who lived at a distance… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
A government cannot be wrong in punishing fraud or force, but it is almost certain to be wrong if, abandoning its legitimate… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
I have not the smallest doubt that, if we had a purely democratic government here, the effect would be the same. Either… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
A politician must often talk and act before he has thought and read. He may be very ill informed respecting a question:… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
Our rulers will best promote the improvement of the nation by strictly confining themselves to their own legitimate duties, by leaving capital… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share Image
We must judge a government by its general tendencies and not by its happy accidents. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
Our estimate of a character always depends much on the manner in which that character affects our own interests and passions. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
Re: Robert Montgomery's Poems His writing bears the same relation to poetry which a Turkey carpet bears to a picture. There are colours in… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
Highest among those who have exhibited human nature by means of dialogue stands Shakespeare. His variety is like the variety of nature,--endless diversity, scarcely… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
The most beautiful object in the world, it will be allowed, is a beautiful woman. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
The passages in which Milton has alluded to his own circumstances are perhaps read more frequently, and with more interest, than any other lines… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
Oh, wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the north, With your hands, and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
It is, I believe, no exaggeration to say that all the historical information which has been collected in the Sanskrit language is less valuable… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
Ambrose Phillips . . . who had the honor of bringing into fashion a species of composition which has been called, after his name, Namby Pamby. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
In the infancy of civilization, when our island was as savage as New Guinea, when letters and arts were still unknown to Athens, when… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
In truth it may be laid down as an almost universal rule that good poets are bad critics. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked. — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
The Spartan, smiting and spurning the wretched Helot, moves our disgust. But the same Spartan, calmly dressing his hair, and uttering his concise jests,… — Thomas B. Macaulay Copy Share
