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John Russell, 1st Earl Russell Quotes
1792–1878 England
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC (18 August 1792 – 28 May 1878), known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was a British Whig and Liberal statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century.
Also known as: John Russell, Lord John Russell, Russell, John
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No man can complain that he has been wronged, a nation may rejoice that she has been righted.
I should say it is like a famine of the thirteenth century acting upon the population of the nineteenth.
If peace cannot be maintained with honour, it is no longer peace.
They are obliged to enforce, by arms, obedience to acts of this House—which, according to every just theory, are supposed to emanate from the people themselves.
Who the devil will coalesce with people that don't coalesce with themselves.
What a pity that he who steals a penny loaf should be hung, whilst he who steals thousands of the public money should be acquitted!
If peace cannot be maintained with honor, it is no longer peace.
What courage! There is not a man on the Tory benches around him but doesn't disapprove of every word he says.
Among the defects of the bill [Lord Derby's] which are numerous, one provision is conspicuous by its presence and another by its absence.
It is of the utmost importance that a nation should have a correct standard by which to weigh the character of its rulers.
It is very odd that in England, where we execute so many, we do not prevent crimes.
I have seemed cold to my friends, but it was not in my heart.
Will this House say, "We will keep our power, keep it how we may; we regard not the petitions of the people, and are ready to abide by all the consequences of our refusal"?
Mr. Delane is very angry because I did not kiss his hand instead of the Queen's.
Government will always be conducted for the benefit of those who govern. If the few alone govern, the interests of the few only will be provided for; if the people themselves have a share in the government, the interests of the many will be consulted.
Essays and Sketches of Life and Character (1820)
I am in my politics for reform and nothing but reform.
[H]is heart always beat for the honour of England.
At the present period, the ministers of the Crown possess the confidence of the House of Commons, but the House of Commons does not possess the esteem and reverence of the people.
I rejoice heartily at the prospect of the negro vote.
[A proverb is] one man's wit, and all men's wisdom.
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