Knowledge advances by steps, and not by leaps. Thomas B. Macaulay More Quotes by Thomas B. Macaulay More Quotes From Thomas B. Macaulay The effective strength of sects is not to be ascertained merely by counting heads. Thomas B. Macaulay sects counting If the Sunday had not been observed as a day of rest during the last three centuries, I have not the slightest doubt that we should have been at this moment a poorer people and less civilized. Thomas B. Macaulay sunday should-have people Power, safely defied, touches its downfall. Thomas B. Macaulay downfall power There are countries in which it would be as absurd to establish popular governments as to abolish all the restraints in a school or to unite all the strait-waistcoats in a madhouse. Thomas B. Macaulay government country school Men naturally sympathize with the calamities of individuals; but they are inclined to look on a fallen party with contempt rather than with pity. Thomas B. Macaulay party men looks Every political sect has its esoteric and its exoteric school--its abstract doctrines for the initiated; its visible symbols, its imposing forms, its mythological fables, for the vulgar. Thomas B. Macaulay doctrine political school A politician must often talk and act before he has thought and read. He may be very ill informed respecting a question: all his notions about it may be vague and inaccurate; but speak he must. And if he is a man of ability, of tact, and of intrepidity, he soon finds that, even under such circumstances, it is possible to speak successfully. Thomas B. Macaulay politics may men He who, in an enlightened and literary society, aspires to be a great poet, must first become a little child. Thomas B. Macaulay poetry littles children So true it is, that nature has caprices which art cannot imitate. Thomas B. Macaulay caprice nature art In after-life you may have friends--fond, dear friends; but never will you have again the inexpressible love and gentleness lavished upon you which none but a mother bestows. Thomas B. Macaulay dear-friend mother may In the modern languages there was not, six hundred years ago, a single volume which is now read. The library of our profound scholar must have consisted entirely of Latin books. Thomas B. Macaulay latin book years Language is the machine of the poet. Thomas B. Macaulay machines poet language Office of itself does much to equalize politicians. It by no means brings all characters to a level; but it does bring high characters down and low characters up towards a common standard. Thomas B. Macaulay office character mean Perhaps no person can be a poet, or can even enjoy poetry, without a certain unsoundness of mind. Thomas B. Macaulay certain poetry mind The reluctant obedience of distant provinces generally costs more than it - The Territory is worth. Empires which branch out widely are often more flourishing for a little timely pruning. Thomas B. Macaulay pruning cost time Language, the machine of the poet, is best fitted for his purpose in its rudest state. Nations, like individuals, first perceive, and then abstract. They advance from particular images to general terms. Hence the vocabulary of an enlightened society is philosophical, that of a half-civilized people is poetical. Thomas B. Macaulay philosophical vocabulary people She thoroughly understands what no other Church has ever understood, how to deal with enthusiasts. Thomas B. Macaulay deals atheism church Oh, wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the north, Thomas B. Macaulay wine feet hands The English doctrine that all power is a trust for the public good. Thomas B. Macaulay public-trust doctrine trust With the dead there is no rivalry, with the dead there is no change. Thomas B. Macaulay aging learning personality
