Dullness in matters of government is a good sign, and not a bad one - in particular, dullness in parliamentary government is a test of its excellence, an indication of its success.

It has been said that England invented the phrase, 'Her Majesty's Opposition'.

An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.

But of all nations in the world the English are perhaps the least a nation of pure philosophers.

Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner. At last it strikes you that they grew up, house by house, on the devious tracks of the old green lanes; and if you follow on to the existing fields, you may often find the change half complete.

Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.