That doctrine of peace at any price has done more mischief than any I can well recall that have been afloat in this country. It has occasioned more wars than any of the most ruthless conquerors. It has disturbed and nearly destroyed that political equilibrium so necessary to the liberties and the welfare of the world.
Benjamin DisraeliIt is a great mistake to suppose that bribery and corruption, although they may be very convenient for gratifying the ambition or the vanity of individuals, have any great effect upon the fortunes or the power of parties. And it is a great mistake to suppose that bribery and corruption are means by which power can either be ob-tained or retained.
Benjamin DisraeliSome will read only old books, as if there were no valuable truths to be discovered in modern publications: others will only read new books, as if some valuable truths are not among the old. Some will not read a book because they know the author: others . . . would also read the man.
Benjamin DisraeliYou have despoiled churches. You have threatened every corporation and endowment in the country. You have examined into everybodys affairs. You have criticised every profession and vexed every trade. No one is certain of his property, and nobody knows what duties he may have to perform to-morrow. This is the policy of confiscation as compared with that of concurrent endowment.
Benjamin DisraeliThere is magic in the memory of schoolboy friendships; it softens the heart, and even affects the nervous system of those who have no heart.
Benjamin DisraeliI do not believe such a quality as chance exists. Every incident that happens must be a link in a chain.
Benjamin DisraeliNext to knowing when to seize an opportunity, the most important thing in life is to know when to forego an advantage.
Benjamin DisraeliA great city, whose image dwells in the memory of man, is the type of some great idea. Rome represents conquest; Faith hovers over the towers of Jerusalem; and Athens embodies the pre-eminent quality of the antique world, Art.
Benjamin DisraeliAn insular country, subject to fogs, and with a powerful middle class, requires grave statesmen.
Benjamin DisraeliPeople are defeated by easy, victorious and cheap successes more than by adversity.
Benjamin DisraeliAll is race; there is no other truth ,and every race must fall which carelessly suffers its blood to become mixed.
Benjamin DisraeliAs a rule, man is a fool. When it's hot, he wants it cool; When its cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting, what is not.
Benjamin DisraeliThe tone and tendency of liberalism...is to attack the institutions of the country under the name of reform and to make war on the manners and customs of the people under the pretext of progress.
Benjamin DisraeliI was told, continued Egremont, that an impassable gulf divided the Rich from the Poor; I was told that the Privileged and the People formed Two Nations, governed by different laws, influenced by different manners, with no thoughts or sympathies in common; with an innate inability of mutual comprehension.
Benjamin DisraeliMan is only truly great when he acts from the passions; never irresistible but when he appeals to the imagination.
Benjamin DisraeliWithout dancing you can never attain a perfectly graceful carriage, which is of the highest importance in life.
Benjamin DisraeliThere are amusing people who do not interest, and interesting people who do not amuse
Benjamin DisraeliThe most powerful men are not public men: a public man is responsible, and a responsible man is a slave. It is private life that governs the world.
Benjamin DisraeliNine-tenths of existing books are nonsense, and the clever books are the refutation of that nonsense.
Benjamin Disraeli