Quotes Library

August 5, 2025

[On being prime minister] Sometimes the strain is awful, you have to resort to Jane Austen.

Harold Macmillan (1894–1986), British Conservative politician, prime minister, in the Butler Papers; Peter Hennessy The Hidden Wiring (1995), Jay p.245

How well do you deal with strain? Is that the best you can do?

Better Austen, than alcohol, affairs, or alternative strategies for relieving the strain. Besides, in every Austen novel, after great turmoil, things turn out right in the end.

Politics & Politicians

More Quotes

March 6, 2025
March 6, 2025
Democracy
Democracy is rarely beautiful in its workings, for the many refuse to be refined, restrained, and artistic.
December 17, 2025
December 17, 2025
Human Nature
Men in high places, from having less personal interest in the characters of others—being safe from them—are commonly less acute observers,
May 2, 2025
May 2, 2025
Politics & Politicians
Conservative, n. A statesman who is enamoured of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal
1…3031323334…124
Page 32 of 124