Quotes Library

March 11, 2025

Finality is not the language of politics.

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), British writer, politician, prime minister, speech in the House of Commons, 28 Feb 1849, Seldes p.109

Does that not suggest that all change is incremental?

Politics is a slow-moving phenomenon and in liberal democratic societies the railway to finality is very long, with too many sidings where many a promising initiative can be parked for a long, long time, and often are.


More Quotes

October 11, 2025
The second law, Rakove’s law of principle and politics, states that the citizen is influenced by principle
November 30, 2025
Democracy encourages the majority to decide things about which the majority is blissfully ignorant.
July 6, 2025
If you are seeking the favor of men, be careful never to give a flat refusal to anyone who makes a request of you.
Page 95 of 125