There is surely no contradiction in saying that a certain section of the community may be quite competent to protect the persons and property of the rest, yet quite unfit to direct our opinions, or to superintend our private habits. Thomas B. Macaulay More Quotes by Thomas B. Macaulay More Quotes From Thomas B. Macaulay It is impossible for us, with our limited means, to attempt to educate the body of the people. We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern. Thomas B. Macaulay classmeanpeople The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by bigots of all sects, when condensed into a few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error. Thomas B. Macaulay atheismerrorsreligious With respect to the doctrine of a future life, a North American Indian knows just as much as any ancient or modern philosopher. Thomas B. Macaulay philosopherdoctrineatheism The Church is the handmaid of tyranny and the steady enemy of liberty. Thomas B. Macaulay atheismchurchenemy Cut off my head, and singular I am, Cut off my tail, and plural I appear; Although my middle's left, there's nothing there! What is my head cut off? A sounding sea; What is my tail cut off? A rushing river; And in their mingling depths I fearless play, Parent of sweetest sounds, yet mute forever. Thomas B. Macaulay cuttingsealakes This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong side of a question of which he is profoundly ignorant. Thomas B. Macaulay ignorantmenbook Then none was for a party; Than all were for the state; Then the great man helped the poor, And the poor man loved the great: Then lands were fairly portioned; Then spoils were fairly sold: The Romans were like brothers In the brave days of old. Thomas B. Macaulay partybrothermen Parent of sweetest sounds, yet mute forever. Thomas B. Macaulay parentsoundforever Such night in England ne'er had been, nor ne'er again shall be. Thomas B. Macaulay englandnight The whole history of Christianity proves that she has little indeed to fear from persecution as a foe, but much to fear from persecution as an ally. Thomas B. Macaulay allieschristianitylittles He [Charles II] was utterly without ambition. He detested business, and would sooner have abdicated his crown than have undergone the trouble of really directing the administration. Thomas B. Macaulay crownsbusinessambition The real security of Christianity is to be found in its benevolent morality, in its exquisite adaptation to the human heart, in the facility with which its scheme accommodates itself to the capacity of every human intellect, in the consolation which it bears to the house of mourning, in the light with which it brightens the great mystery of the grave. Thomas B. Macaulay lightrealheart The real object of the drama is the exhibition of human character. Thomas B. Macaulay realcharacterdrama Generalization is necessary to the advancement of knowledge; but particularity is indispensable to the creations of the imagination. Thomas B. Macaulay advancementcreationimagination The most beautiful object in the world, it will be allowed, is a beautiful woman. Thomas B. Macaulay beautifulbeautyworld To carry the spirit of peace into war is a weak and cruel policy. When an extreme case calls for that remedy which is in its own nature most violent, and which, in such cases, is a remedy only because it is violent, it is idle to think of mitigating and diluting. Languid war can do nothing which negotiation or submission will do better: and to act on any other principle is, not to save blood and money, but to squander them. Thomas B. Macaulay warpeacethinking No war ought ever to be undertaken but under circumstances which render all intercourse of courtesy between the combatants impossible. It is a bad thing that men should hate each other; but it is far worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's throats without hatred. War is never lenient but where it is wanton; when men are compelled to fight in self-defence, they must hate and avenge: this may be bad; but it is human nature. Thomas B. Macaulay hatewarpeace History begins in novel and ends in essay. Thomas B. Macaulay novelendshistory A history in which every particular incident may be true may on the whole be false. Thomas B. Macaulay incidentsmayhistory It has often been found that profuse expenditures, heavy taxation, absurd commercial restrictions, corrupt tribunals, disastrous wars, seditions, persecutions, conflagrations, inundation, have not been able to destroy capital so fast as the exertions of private citizens have been able to create it. Thomas B. Macaulay citizenswarcivilization
