Arthur J Balfour Quotes & Sayings

His Majesty's Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. — Arthur Balfour

I have done nothing important or distinguished since we met except to win the handicap prize, worth ?4 10/- at North Berwick. — Arthur Balfour

Few persons are prevented from thinking themselves right by the reflection that, if they be right, the rest of the world is wrong. — Arthur James Balfour

No country can allow its safety to be wholly dependent on faithful observance by other states of rules to which they are obliged. — Arthur Balfour

I'd rather take advice from my valet than from the Conservative Party Conference — Arthur Balfour

I thought Winston Churchill was a young man of promise, but it appears he is a young man of promises. — Arthur Balfour

Herbert Asquith's clarity is a great liability because he has nothing to say. — Arthur Balfour

I look forward to a time when Irish patriotism will as easily combine with British patriotism as Scottish patriotism combines now. — Arthur Balfour

Prison is a severe and terrible punishment; but for me, thanks to Arthur Balfour, this was not so. I was much cheered on my arrival by the warder at the gate, who had to take particulars about me. He asked my religion, and I replied 'agnostic.' He asked how to spell it, and remarked with a sigh: 'Well, there are many religions, but I suppose they all worship the same God.' This remark kept me cheerful for about a week. — Bertrand Russell

It is unfortunate, considering that enthusiasm moves the world, that so few enthusiasts can be trusted to speak the truth. — Arthur Balfour

He has only half learned the art of reading who has not added to it the more refined art of skipping and skimming. — Arthur Balfour

Biography should be written by an acute enemy. — Arthur Balfour

The power of authority is never more subtle and effective than when it produces a psychological atmosphere or climate favorable to the life of certain modes of belief, unfavorable, and even fatal, to the life of others. — Arthur Balfour

Advice would be more acceptable if it didn't always conflict with our plans. — Arthur Balfour

The General Strike has taught the working class more in four days than years of talking could have done. — Arthur Balfour

Enthusiasm moves the world. — Arthur Balfour

Winston has written four volumes about himself and called it 'World Crisis'. — Arthur Balfour

I do not stare at a gentleman in distress. — Arthur Balfour

His Majesty's Government looks with favour upon the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jews. — Arthur Balfour

Why can't the Jews and the Arabs just sit down together and settle this like good Christians? — Arthur Balfour

Today a Scot is leading a British army in France [Field Marshall Douglas Haig], another is commanding the British Grand Fleet at sea [Admiral David Beatty], while a third directs the Imperial General Staff at home [Sir William Roberton]. The Lord Chancellor is a Scot [Viscount Finlay]; so are the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary [Bonar Law and Arthur Balfour]. The Prime Minister is a Welshman [David Lloyd George], and the First Lord of the Admiralty is an Irishman [Lord Carson]. Yet no one has ever brought in a bill to give home rule to England! — John Hay Beith

Ask with urgency and passion. — Arthur Balfour

He [A. J. Balfour] was eminently one of the Cole Porter school of famous men, who only fell to rise again. Picking himself up and brushing himself down became a minor art form, ruefully admired by his contemporaries. — Arthur Balfour

Kant, as we all know, compared moral law to the starry heavens, and found them both sublime. On the naturalistic hypothesis we should rather compare it to the protective blotches on a beetle's back, and find them both ingenious. — Arthur Balfour

I am more or less happy when being praised, not very comfortable when being abused, but I have moments of uneasiness when being explained. — Arthur Balfour

Nothing matters very much and most things don't matter at all. — Arthur Balfour

But science is the great instrument of social change, all the greater because its object is not change but knowledge, and its silent appropriation of this dominant function, amid the din of political and religious strife, is the most vital of all the revolutions which have marked the development of modern civilisation. — Arthur Balfour

There are plenty of cases of war being begun before it is declared. — Arthur Balfour

It has always been desirable to tell the truth, but seldom if ever necessary. — Arthur Balfour

Every human soul is of infinite value, eternal, free; no human being, therefore, is so placed as not to have within his reach, in himself and others, objects adequate to infinite endeavor. — Arthur Balfour

The tyranny of majorities may be as bad as the tyranny of kings. — Arthur Balfour

I do not know how it comes about, but if you sit opposite a man every day and you are engaged in fighting him, you cannot help getting a liking for him whether he deserves it or not. — Arthur Balfour