William Makepeace Thackeray Quotes on Power

5 quotes

  1. Here was a man who could not spell, and did not care to read - who had the habits and the cunning of a boor: whose aim in life was pettifogging: who never had a taste, or emotion, or enjoyment, but was sordid and soil; and yet he had rank, and honors, and power, somehow: and was dignitary of the land, and a pillar of the state.

  2. Some cynical Frenchman has said that there are two parties to a love-transaction: the one who loves and the other who condescends to be so treated.

  3. Whenever he met a great man he grovelled before him, and my-lorded him as only a free-born Briton can do.

  4. Of the Corporation of the Goosequill--of the Press, my boy,...of the fourth estate...There she is-the great engine-she never sleeps. She has her ambassadors in every quarter of the world-her couriers upon every road. Her officers march along with armies, andher envoys walk into statesmen's cabinets. They are ubiquitous.

  5. Women like not only to conquer, but to be conquered.

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