There are no permanent alliances, only permanent interests. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston More Quotes by Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston More Quotes From Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston We have no eternal allies, and we have not perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston allies politics enemy Peace is an Excellent Thing, and War is a great Misfortune. But there are Many things More valuable than Peace, and many Things Much worse than war. The maintenance of the Ottoman Empire belongs to the First Class, the Occupation of Turkey by Russia belongs to the Second. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston russia war peace The Schleswig-Holstein question is so complicated, only three men in Europe understood it. One was Prince Albert, who is dead. The second was a German professor who went mad. I am the third and I have forgotten all about it Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston mad europe men Half the wrong conclusions at which mankind arrive are reached by the abuse of metaphors, and by mistaking general resemblance or imaginary similarity for real identity. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston abuse real identity We have no permanent allies, only permanent interests. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston allies interest permanent Dirt is not dirty, but only something in the wrong place. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston dirt dirty son What is merit? The opinion one man entertains of another. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston merit opinion men Large republics seem to be essentially and inherently aggressive. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston republic aggressive seems Dirt is matter in the wrong place. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston housework dirt matter