The Victorian Age, for all its humbug, was a period of rapid progress, because men were dominated by hope rather than fear. If we are again to have progress, we must again be dominated by hope.

So long as there is death there will be sorrow, and so long as there is sorrow it can be no part of the duty of human beings to increase its amount, in spite of the fact that a few rare spirits know how to transmute it.

There is, it is true, an idealistic theory according to which democracy is the best form of government. I think myself that this theory is true. But there is no department of practical politics where idealistic theories are strong enough to cause great changes; when great changes occur, the theories which justify them are always a camouflage for passion. And the passion that has given driving force to democratic theories is undoubtedly the passion of envy.

Change is scientific, ‘progress’ is ethical. Change is indubitable whereas progress is a matter of controversy.

All the important human advances that we know of since historical times began have been due to individuals of whom the majority faced virulent public opposition.

Moral progress has consisted in the main of protest against cruel customs, and of attempts to enlarge human sympathy.