27 William, the Younger Pitt Quotes

William, the Younger Pitt quotes

1. What I have now offered is meant merely for the sake of my country, for the simple question is: will you change your Ministers and keep the Empire, or keep your Ministers and lose the Kingdom?

2. I will repeat then, Sir, that it is not this treaty, it is the Earl of Shelburne alone whom the movers of this question are desirous to wound. This is the object which has raised this storm of faction; this is the aim of the unnatural coalition to which I have alluded. If, however, the baneful alliance is not already formed, if this ill-omened marriage is not already solemnized, I know a just and lawful impediment, and, in the name of the public safety, I here forbid the banns.

3. You may take from me, Sir, the privileges and emoluments of place, but you cannot, and you shall not, take from me those habitual and warm regards for the prosperity of Great Britain which constitute the honour, the happiness, the pride of my life, and which, I trust, death alone can extinguish.

4. Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

   Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

5. We must not count with certainty on a continuance of our present prosperity during such an interval [15 years]; but unquestionably there never was a time in the history of this country when, from the situation of Europe, we might more reasonably expect fifteen years of peace, than we may at the present moment.

6. We owe our present happiness and prosperity, which has never been equalled in the annals of mankind, to a mixture of monarchical government.

7. The amount of our danger, therefore, it would be impolitic to conceal from the people. It was the first duty of ministers to make it known, and after doing so, it should have been their study to provide against it, and to point out the means to the country by which it might be averted.

8. I return you many thanks for the honour you have done me; but Europe is not to be saved by any single man. England has saved herself by her exertions, and will, as I trust, save Europe by her example.

9. Prostrate the beauteous ruin lies; and all That shared its shelter perish in its fall.

10. Most accursed, wicked, barbarous, cruel, unnatural, unjust and diabolical.

11. Roll up that map, it will not be wanted these ten years.

12. Oh, my country! How I leave my country!

13. I think I could eat one of Bellamy's veal pies.

14. Not merely a chip of the old 'block', but the old block itself.

1. Poverty of course is no disgrace, but it is damned annoying.

2. The press is like the air, a chartered libertine.

3. Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged bosom.

4. If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms never never never!

5. Trade increases the wealth and glory of a country; but its real strength and stamina are to be looked for among the cultivators of the land.

6. Don't talk to me about a man's being able to talk sense; everyone can talk sense. Can he talk nonsense?

7. Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who posses it; and this I know, my lords: that where law ends, tyranny begins.

8. The poorest man may, in his cottage, bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail, its roof may shake; the wind may blow though it; the storm may enter; the rain may enter; but the King of England may not enter; all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement.

9. Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

10. Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged heart.

11. Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who posses it.

12. Was not necessity the plea of every illegal exertion of power or exercise of oppression?...Necessity is the plea for very infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

13. “There is something behind the throne greater than the King himself.”