James Fitzjames Stephen Inspirational Quotes (8)

Thus hope, aided by imagination, makes one man a hero, another a somnambulist, and a third a lunatic while it renders them all enthusiasts.

The only shape in which equality is really connected with justice is this - justice presupposes general rules. If these general rules are to be maintained at all, it is obvious that they must be applied equally to every case which satisfies their terms.

Power and courtly influence form an intoxicating draught even when raised to the lips of an ascetic and a saint.

To try to make men equal by altering social arrangements is like trying to make the cards of equal value by shuffling the pack.

A well-judging man will open his trunk-line of study in such a direction that, while habitually adhering to it, he may enjoy a ready access to such other fields of knowledge as are most nearly related to it.

To try to regulate the internal affairs of a family, the relations of love or friendship, or many other things of the same sort, by law or by the coercion of public opinion, is like trying to pull an eyelash out of a man's eye with a pair of tongs. They may put out the eye, but they will never get hold of the eyelash

A liberal conservative is a man who thinks things ought to progress but would rather they remained as they are.

Wisdom may be the ultimate arbiter, but is seldom the immediate agent in human affairs.