This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them, and that men should feel a dread of being considered infamous in the opinions of posterity, from their depraved expressions and base actions.

In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.

Power won by crime no one ever yet turned to a good purpose.

The task of history is to hold out for reprobation every evil word and deed, and to hold out for praise every great and noble word and deed.

Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives or immigrants, remains obscure; one must remember we are dealing with barbarians.

A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.

The hatred of those who are near to us is most violent.