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

Arthur Balfour

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Arthur Balfour
Age: 81 †
Born: 1848
Born: July 25
Died: 1930
Died: March 19
Philosopher
Politician
Statesman
Writer
Boston
Massachusetts
Arthur James Balfour
first earl of Balfour
1st Earl of Balfour
Viscount Traprain of Whittingehame
Seldom
Necessary
Tell
Truth
Ever
Always
Desirable

More quotes by Arthur Balfour

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Our Scottish theory ... is that every country has need of Scotchmen, but that Scotland has no need of the citizens of any other country.
Arthur Balfour
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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
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Advice would be more acceptable if it didn't always conflict with our plans.
Arthur Balfour
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There are plenty of cases of war being begun before it is declared.
Arthur Balfour
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It is unfortunate, considering that enthusiasm moves the world, that so few enthusiasts can be trusted to speak the truth.
Arthur Balfour
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Winston has written four volumes about himself and called it 'World Crisis'.
Arthur Balfour
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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
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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
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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
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And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money...and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a Big Brother or Sister...You want to do well, but if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough.
Arthur Balfour
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His Majesty's Government looks with favour upon the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jews.
Arthur Balfour
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I look forward to a time when Irish patriotism will as easily combine with British patriotism as Scottish patriotism combines now.
Arthur Balfour
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The tyranny of majorities may be as bad as the tyranny of Kings.
Arthur Balfour
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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
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Biography should be written by an acute enemy.
Arthur Balfour
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I never forgive, but I always forget.
Arthur Balfour
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Herbert Asquith's clarity is a great liability because he has nothing to say.
Arthur Balfour
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Science preceded the theory of science, and is independent of it. Science preceded naturalism, and will survive it.
Arthur Balfour
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Why can't the Jews and the Arabs just sit down together and settle this like good Christians?
Arthur Balfour
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I do not stare at a gentleman in distress.
Arthur Balfour