I can not, therefore, see how this can be imputed as a crime, or how any of the king’s ministers can be blamed for his doing what the public has no concern in; for if the public be well and faithfully served it has no business to ask by whom.

Persons extremely reserved are like old enamelled watches, which had painted covers, that hindered your seeing what o’clock it was.

Every man has his price.

All history is a lie!

I have lived long enough in the world, Sir, . . . to know that the safety of a minister lies in his having the approbation of this House. Former ministers, Sir, neglected this, and therefore they fell; I have always made it my first study to obtain it...

Though I admire republican principles in theory, yet I am afraid the practice may be too perfect for human nature. We tried a republic last century, and it failed. Let our enemies try next. I hate political experiments.

I took the right sow by the ear.

All those men have their price.

The gratitude of place-expectants is a lively sense of future favours.

Let sleeping dogs lie.