David Graham - The Philosophy of Benjamin Disraeli

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2014 DavidGraham CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Generallyregarded as one of the fathers of British politics, BenjaminDisraeli remains today one of the most influential Prime Ministersin history. Though fiercely conservative (in fact, centrallyinvolved in the creation of the modern Conservative Party), much ofhis work in international affairs is still admired by people of allpolitical persuasions. Disraeli isnotable also for his fierce rivalry with William Gladstone, theliberal politician and four-time Prime Minister. It would be anunderstatement to say that there was no love lost between thetwo. Though borninto a Jewish family, Disraeli later converted to Anglicanism atthe age of twelve, following his fathers dispute with hissynagogue. However, although his belief in God was apparent, he isnot known to have taken his religion particularly seriously.

Unlike mostpoliticians of today, Disraeli had much of interest to say on thesubject of philosophy, and was very outspoken in his views onmankind and life itself. He remains a much quoted figure today. This bookbrings together some of Disraelis most interesting thoughts on anumber of different topics. GENERALTHOUGHTS & OPINIONS "The people ofEngland are the most enthusiastic in the world." * "The pursuitof science leads only to the insoluble." * "There arethree kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." * "Nine-tenthsof the existing books are nonsense and the clever books are therefutation of that nonsense." * "Travelteaches toleration." * "London is aroost for every bird." * "There ismoderation even in excess." * "The more youare talked about the less powerful you are." * "Plagiarists,at least, have the merit of preservation." * "A Universityshould be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning." * "Genius, whenyoung, is divine." * "Change isinevitable. Change is constant." * "The secret ofsuccess is to be ready when your opportunity comes." * "Youth is thetrustee of prosperity." * "Colonies donot cease to be colonies because they are independent." * "To supervisepeople, you must either surpass them in their accomplishments ordespise them." * "WilliamGladstone has not a single redeeming defect." * "Almosteverything that is great has been done by youth." * "The view ofJerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is thehistory of earth and of heaven." * "You can tellthe strength of a nation by the women behind its men." * "A precedentembalms a principle." * "The servicesin wartime are fit only for desperadoes, but in peace are only fitfor fools." * "We live in anage when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longersynonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour.

The claims of theFuture are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of aNation are the trustees of Posterity." * "A great city,whose image dwells in the memory of man, is the type of some greatidea. Rome represents conquest; Faith hovers over the towers ofJerusalem; and Athens embodies the pre-eminent quality of theantique world, Art." * "London is amodern Babylon." * "Assassinationhas never changed the history of the world." * "Seeing much,suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars oflearning." * "The Youth ofa Nation are the trustees of posterity." * "In aprogressive country change is constant; change is inevitable." * "If a man begloomy let him keep to himself. No one has the right to go croakingabout society, or what is worse, looking as if he stifledgrief." * "Moderationhas been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and toconsole undistinguished people for their want of fortune and theirlack of merit." * "There can beeconomy only where there is efficiency." * "Greatcountries are those that produce great people." * "The righthonourable gentleman caught the Whigs bathing, and walked away withtheir clothes. He has left them in the full enjoyment of theirliberal positions, and he is himself a strict conservative of theirgarments." * "An author whospeaks about their own books is almost as bad as a mother whospeaks about her own children." * "The wisdom ofthe wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated byquotations." * "Thedifference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: IfGladstone fell into the Thames, it would be a misfortune. But ifsomeone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity." * "There is nogreater index of character so sure as the voice." * "Upon theeducation of the people of this country the fate of this countrydepends." * "Everyonelikes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it onwith a trowel." HIMSELF "Like allgreat travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remembermore than I have seen." * "My idea of anagreeable person is a person who agrees with me." * "I must followthe people. Am I not their leader?" * "I am preparedfor the worst, but hope for the best." * "I never deny.I never contradict.

I sometimes forget." * "I havebrought myself, by long meditation, to the conviction that a humanbeing with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothingcan resist a will which will stake even existence upon itsfulfillment." * "I have beenever of opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded." MANKIND "We cannotlearn men from books." * "The moreextensive a man's knowledge of what has been done, the greater willbe his power of knowing what to do." * "Youth is ablunder; Manhood a struggle, Old Age a regret." * "The bestsecurity for civilization is the dwelling, and upon properlyappointed and becoming dwellings depends, more than anything else,the improvement of mankind." * "Increasedmeans and increased leisure are the two civilizers of man." * "Circumstancesare beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power." * "Somethingunpleasant is coming when men are anxious to tell the truth." * "Nobody isforgotten when it is convenient to remember him." * "When a manfell into his anecdotage it was a sign for him to retire from theworld." * "Man is madeto adore and to obey: but if you will not command him, if you givehim nothing to worship, he will fashion his own divinities, andfind a chieftain in his own passions." * "Life is tooshort to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply,acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and withfervor." * "Taking a newstep, uttering a new word, is what people fear most." * "Talk to a manabout himself and he will listen for hours." * "Every man hasa right to be conceited until he is successful." * "The health ofthe people is really the foundation upon which all their happinessand all their powers as a state depend." * "Man is onlygreat when he acts from passion." * "Man is notthe creature of circumstances, circumstances are the creatures ofmen. We are free agents, and man is more powerful than matter." * "You will findas you grow older that courage is the rarest of all qualities to befound in public life." * "As a generalrule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the bestinformation." * "Fame andpower are the objects of all men. Even their partial fruition isgained by very few; and that, too, at the expense of socialpleasure, health, conscience, life." * "A consistentsoul believes in destiny, a capricious one in chance." * "One secret ofsuccess in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity whenit comes." PHILOSOPHY "Despair isthe conclusion of fools." * "Desperationis sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius." * "Never takeanything for granted." * "As for ourmajority... one is enough." * "Experience isthe child of thought, and thought is the child of action." * "The palace isnot safe when the cottage is not happy." * "Grief is theagony of an instant; the indulgence of grief the blunder of alife." * "Moderation isthe center wherein all philosophies, both human and divine,meet." * "Nurture yourminds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makesheroes." * "If you're notvery clever you should be conciliatory." * "The choicestpleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation." * "We are allborn for love.