Robert Walpole Quotes

• It is but refusing to gratify an unreasonable or an insolent demand, and up starts a patriot.

  Robert Walpole

  Demand, Patriot, Unreasonable

  47 Copy quote

• Let sleeping dogs lie.

  Robert Walpole

  Dog, Lying, Sleep

  18 Copy quote

• Though I admire republican principles in theory, yet I am afraid the practice may be too perfect for human nature. We tried a republic last century, and it failed. Let our enemies try next. I hate political experiments.

  Robert Walpole

  Hate, Practice, Perfect

  13 Copy quote

• Every man has his price.

  Robert Walpole

  Money, Men, Bribery

  8 Copy quote

• [Read] anything but history,.. for history must be false.

  Robert Walpole

  History, Knows

  "Walpoliana". Book by Horace Walpole and John Pinkerton, B. Smith, p. 43, 1800.

  11 Copy quote

• The very idea of true patriotism is lost, and the term has been prostituted to the very worst of purposes. A patriot, sir! Why, patriots spring up like mushrooms!

  Robert Walpole

  Spring, Mushrooms, Ideas

  10 Copy quote

• I can not, therefore, see how this can be imputed as a crime, or how any of the king's ministers can be blamed for his doing what the public has no concern in; for if the public be well and faithfully served it has no business to ask by whom.

  Robert Walpole

  Kings, Business, Crime

  11 Copy quote

• Whatever was the conduct of England, I am equally arraigned.

  Robert Walpole

  England

  7 Copy quote

• The gratitude of place-expectants is a lively sense of future favours.

  Robert Walpole

  Gratitude, Politics, Favour

  7 Copy quote

• I will not attempt to deny the reasonableness and necessity of a party war; but in carrying on that war all principles and rules of justice should not be departed from.

  Robert Walpole

  War, Party, Justice

  9 Copy quote

• I have lived long enough in the world, Sir, . . . to know that the safety of a minister lies in his having the approbation of this House. Former ministers, Sir, neglected this, and therefore they fell; I have always made it my first study to obtain it.

  Robert Walpole

  Lying, Long, Safety

  1739 Speech, House of Commons, 21 Nov.

  8 Copy quote

• I have never been afraid of making patriots; but I disdain and despise all their efforts.

  Robert Walpole

  Effort, Patriot, Despise

  7 Copy quote

• If they are really persuaded that the army is annually established by me, that I have the sole disposal of posts and honours, that I employ this power in the destruction of liberty and the diminution of commerce, let me awaken them from their delusion.

  Robert Walpole

  Army, Liberty, Awakening

  8 Copy quote

• Gentlemen have talked a great deal of patriotism. A venerable word, when duly practiced.

  Robert Walpole

  Passion, Gentleman, Patriotism

  7 Copy quote

• All history is a lie!

  Robert Walpole

  Lying, History

  6 Copy quote

• Persons extremely reserved are like old enamelled watches, which had painted covers, that hindered your seeing what o'clock it was.

  Robert Walpole

  Watches, Clock, Diffidence

  8 Copy quote

• No expense has been incurred but what has been approved of and provided for by Parliament.

  Robert Walpole

  Parliament, Expenses, Has Beens

  8 Copy quote

• I took the right sow by the ear.

  Robert Walpole

  Ears

  10 Copy quote

• Many words are not wanting to show that the particular view of each court occasioned the dangers which affected the public tranquillity; yet the whole is charged to my account. Nor is this sufficient.

  Robert Walpole

  Views, Quiet, Tranquility

  "The treasury of British eloquence, compiled by R. Cochrane", (p. 111), 1877.

  4 Copy quote

• All those men have their price.

  Robert Walpole

  Men, Political, Politics

  Quoted in William Coxe Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole (1798).

  12 Copy quote

• IT has been observed by several gentlemen, in vindication of this motion, that if it should be carried, neither my life, liberty, nor estate will be affected.

  Robert Walpole

  Gentleman, Liberty, Should

  7 Copy quote

• Is it no imputation to be arraigned before this House, in which I have sat forty years, and to have my name transmitted to posterity with disgrace and infamy?

  Robert Walpole

  Hypocrite, Years, Names

  7 Copy quote

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