William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, ( 1708 - 1778) Quotes

The little I know of it has not served to raise my opinion of what is vulgarly called the "Monied Interest;" I mean, that blood-sucker, that muckworm, that calls itself "the friend of government.

There is something behind the throne greater than the King himself.

On Affairs in America My Lords, this ruinous and ignominious situation, where we cannot act with success, nor suffer with honour, calls upon us to remonstrate in the strongest and loudest language of truth, to rescue the ear of Majesty from the delusions which surround it. You cannot, I venture to say, you cannot conquer America. What is your present situation there? We do not know the worst; but we know that in three campaigns we have done nothing and suffered much. - You may swell every expense, and strain every effort, still more extravagantly; accumulate every assistance you can beg or borrow; traffic and barter with every pitiful German Prince, that sells and sends his subjects to the shambles of a foreign country. Your efforts are forever vain and impotent-doubly so from this mercenary aid on which you rely; for it irritates to an incurable resentment the minds of your enemies, to overrun them with the sordid sons of rapine and of plunder, devoting them and their possessions to the rapacity of hireling cruelty! If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms-never-never-never.

We have a Calvanistic creed, a Popish liturgy, and an Arminiam clergy.

Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

Concession comes with better grace and more salutary effect from superior power.

Allay the ferment prevailing in America by removing the obnoxious hostile cause--obnoxious and unserviceable--for their merit can only be in action. "Non dimicare et vincare."

If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms--never, never, never.

Bowing, ceremonious, formal compliments, stiff civilities, will never be politeness; that must be easy, natural, unstudied; and what will give this but a mind benevolent and attentive to exert that amiable disposition in trifles to all you converse and live with?

Necessity is the argument of tyrants, it is the creed of slaves.