Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Quotes

Peace with England, and war with the world

It seems eternally forgotten, that men, in their collective capacity as nations, may be, and often are, guilty of the same follies, faults, and crimes, that they can commit as individuals in the common relations of social life; that they may be just as ill-humored, or resentful, or unreasonable, or ferocious, or wicked; that their good or bad passions enter with them into cabinets, and senates, and public meetings, just as they do into drawing-rooms, or studies, or their family dining-rooms.

But I think 'Love, Actually' has a very realistic view of human nature in line with the latest scientific evidence. The opening scene, where Hugh Grant's character talks about the arrivals gate at Heathrow, is about friendship and connection, it's about who we really are as a species.

Humans are social creatures that really crave intimacy.

Man is by nature a political animal.

I've never been one to tear the social fabric.

Society is like a large piece of frozen water; and skating well is the great art of social life.

I'm afraid that the United States is more isolated today than at any other time in my memory.

But it has, in addition, an even more precious quality - a consciousness of the human intelligence, the human spirit and that man is a social creature.

I'm sure Putnam is right that there's been a decline in certain kinds of organizations like bowling leagues. But people participate in communities in other ways.

Human beings are social creatures - not occasionally or by accident but always. Sociability is one of our lives as both cause and effect.

If we reduce social life to the smallest possible unit we will find that there is no social life in the company of one.

The community of masses of human beings has produced an order of life in regulated channels which connects individuals in a technically functioning organisation, but not inwardly from the historicity of their souls.

We live in a world of diverse cultures, and we know very little about social engineering and how to 'build nations.' And when we cannot be sure how to improve the world, hubristic visions pose a grave danger.

David Cameron's approach has left Britain weakened and weary because to retreat from the world is as foolish as it is futile.

Iran is isolating itself from the rest of the world.

We cannot understand our humanity just by studying individuals.

Man has been adjudged a social animal.

Really I don't like human nature unless all candied over with art.

The thing is so done... The Yankees will shout in triumph; but it is they who lose most by our decision. The great danger of the time – a danger which the policy of the European System would have fostered – was a division of the world into European and American, republican and Monarchical; a league of worn-out governments, on the one had, and of youthful and stirring nations, with the United States at their head, on the other. We slip in between; and plant ourselves in Mexico. The United States have gotten the start of us in vain; and we link once more America to Europe. Six months more – and the mischief would have been done.

I would not vote for any Republican who was not in favor of giving assistance to England and France

Why take sides in the fractious squabbles of a quarrelsome continent?

It is human nature that rules the world, not governments ...

Intimately concerned as we are with the system of Europe, it does not follow that we are therefore called upon to mix ourselves on every occasion, with a restless and meddling activity, in the concerns of the nations which surround us.

The English people would never consent to go to war for a cause in which England was not manifestly interested.