Efficiency in an assembly requires a solid mass of steady votes; and these are collected by a deferential attachment to particular men, or by a belief in the principles that those men represent, and they are maintained by fear of those men - by the fear that if you vote against them, you may soon yourself have no vote at all.

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.

Money is economic power.

Every banker knows that if he has to prove that he is worthy of credit, however good may be his arguments, in fact his credit is gone: but what we have requires no proof.

A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe, and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself.

The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.

A severe though not unfriendly critic of our institutions said that the cure for admiring the House of Lords was to go and look at it.