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.

And lives to clutch the golden keys,
To mould a mighty state's decrees,
And shape the whisper read more

And lives to clutch the golden keys,
To mould a mighty state's decrees,
And shape the whisper of the throne.

Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation?--Why quit
our own to stand upon foreign ground?--Why by interweaving read more

Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation?--Why quit
our own to stand upon foreign ground?--Why by interweaving our
destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and
prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship,
interest, humour or caprice?

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.

If you wish to preserve your secret wrap it up in frankness.

If you wish to preserve your secret wrap it up in frankness.

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.

The people of the two nations [French and English] must be
brought into mutual dependence by the supply of read more

The people of the two nations [French and English] must be
brought into mutual dependence by the supply of each other's
wants. There is no other way of counteracting the antagonism of
language and race. It is God's own method of producing an
entente cordiale, and no other plan is worth a farthing.

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

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