Why don't you show us a statesman who can rise up to the
emergency, and cave in the emergency's read more

Why don't you show us a statesman who can rise up to the
emergency, and cave in the emergency's head.

And statesmen at her council met
Who knew the seasons when to take
Occasion by the hand, read more

And statesmen at her council met
Who knew the seasons when to take
Occasion by the hand, and make
The bounds of freedom wider yet.

Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere,
In action faithful, and in honour clear;
Who broke read more

Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere,
In action faithful, and in honour clear;
Who broke no promise, served no private end,
Who gained no title, and who lost no friend,
Ennobled by himself, by all approved,
And praised, unenvied, by the Muse he loved.

It is strange so great a statesman should
Be so sublime a poet.

It is strange so great a statesman should
Be so sublime a poet.

I have the courage of my opinions, but I have not the temerity to
give a political blank cheque read more

I have the courage of my opinions, but I have not the temerity to
give a political blank cheque to Lord Salisbury.

Nursed by stern men with empires in their brains.

Nursed by stern men with empires in their brains.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken
together, would by my standard of a statesman.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken
together, would by my standard of a statesman.

The statesman cannot govern without stability of belief, true or
false.

The statesman cannot govern without stability of belief, true or
false.

If one has no better method of enticement to offer, the cordial
agreement seems to us to be the read more

If one has no better method of enticement to offer, the cordial
agreement seems to us to be the best compromise.
[Fr., Si l'on n'a pas de meilleurs moyen de seduction a lui
offrir, l'entente cordiale nous parait fort compromise.]