George Grenville Quotes

It is impossible to practice parliamentary politics without having patience, decency, politeness and courtesy.

The times call for patience, calm and compromise.

Peace" is when nobody's shooting. A "just peace" is when our side gets what it wants.

Let your accusations be few in number, even if they be just.

It is exceedingly desirable that all parts of this great Confederacy shall be at peace.... Let us Republicans do our part to have it so. Even though much provoked, let us do nothing through passion and ill temper. Even though the southern people will not so much as listen to us, let us calmly consider their demands, and yield to them if, in our deliberate view of our duty, we possibly can.

Truth is the glue that holds government together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go.

There's a lot more power in calm than in vituperation.

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.

I suppose I might insist on making issues of things. But that is not my nature, and I always bear in ming that my mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.

My position does not give me the liberty to exclude anything, but my mood tells me there will not be violence.

Justice in the extreme is often unjust.

There is often, in the affairs of government, more efficiency and wisdom in non-action than in action.

The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.

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.

The rest is a mere matter of detail, to be settled with judgment, discretion, and caution.

In general, we as police officers - at least the good police officers - like to look at each situation case by case and always pay close attention to the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.

Emotion is always the enemy of wise statesmanship.

When suave politeness, tempering bigot zeal, corrected 'I believe' to 'one does feel'.

Although we are very strong, we are pursuing a very calculating and moderate policy. We prefer a political solution and are managing the situation accordingly.

The secret of America is compromise. Compromise is a sign of weakness in any other country. In America it is a great strength.

Whoever imposes severe punishment becomes repulsive to the people; while he who awards mild punishment becomes contemptible. But whoever imposes punishment as deserved becomes respectable.

To obtain a just compromise, concession must not only be mutual--it must be equal also....There can be no hope that either will yield more than it gets in return.

Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable, the art of the next best.

The art of politics is to find something in the middle that satisfies most.

Principles and rules are binding, but when they come into conflict they must be balanced.