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Horace Walpole Quotes (1717-1797)
Writer, Politician
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About Horace Walpole
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), more commonly known as Horace Walpole, was a British politician and writer, noted for his collected letters and for having written the first Gothic horror novel, The Castle of Otranto (1764).
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βHarry Vane, Pulteney's toad-eater.β
βIt was easier to conquer it [the East] than to know what to do with it.β
βThe whole nation hitherto has been void of wit and humour, and even incapable of relishing it.β
βPrognostics do not always prove prophecies, β at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first.β
βA tragedy can never suffer by delay: a comedy may, because the allusions or the manners represented in it maybe temporary.β
βThe world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feelβ a solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.β
βMen are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.β
βA fig for our democrats! [1792]. Barking dogs never bite. The danger in France arose from silent and instantaneous action. They said nothing, and did every thingβours say every thing, and will do nothing.β
βLord Bolingbroke discovered a foible of the great duke of Marlborough, that he delighted in tying Miss Jenning's garters. When he repeated the story, he used to add, "What is known to women is known to the world."β
βThough 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.β
βMy aversion to them...springs from the perniciousness of that sect to society—I hate Papists, as a man, not as a Protestant. If Papists were only enemies to the religion of other men, I should overlook their errors. As they are foes to liberty, I cannot forgive them.β
βSir Robert Walpole used to say, that it was fortunate so few men could be prime ministers, as it was best that few should thoroughly know the shocking wickedness of mankind.
I never heard him say, that all men have their prices; and I believe no such expression ever came from his mouth.β
I never heard him say, that all men have their prices; and I believe no such expression ever came from his mouth.β
βTo act with common sense, according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know; and the best philosophy, to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot, bless the goodness that has given us so much happiness with it, whatever it is, and despise affectation.β
βWhy, I'll swear I see no difference between a country gentleman and a sirloin; whenever the first laughs, or the latter is cut, there run out just the same streams of gravy! ... Oh! my dear Sir, don't you find that nine parts in ten of the world are of no use but to make you wish yourself with that tenth part? ...β
βAllen of Bath procured them the same honours from thence; and for some weeks it rained gold boxes: Chester, Worcester, Norwich, Bedford, Salisbury, Yarmouth, Tewkesbury, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Stirling, and other populous and chief towns following the example. Exeter, with singular affection, sent boxes of heart of oak.β
Horace Walpole Quotes by Topic
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Horace Walpole on Comedy 2 quotes
βThe world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.β
Horace Walpole on Nonsense 2 quotes
βA careless song, with a little nonsense in it now and then, does not misbecome a monarch.β
Horace Walpole on Reflections on the Revolution in France 2 quotes
βDelighted with Mr. Burke?βyes, so delighted that I have read him twice, and if I were not so old and had not lost my memory, I would try to get his whole book by heart. It is the wisest book I ever read in my life; and after that, the wittiest. It ought to be translated into all languages, and commented, and preached in all churches in portionsβpray, has not Dr. Price hanged himself?β
Horace Walpole on World
Horace Walpole on Song
Horace Walpole on Rogue
Horace Walpole on Prophet
βPrognostics do not always prove prophecies, at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first.β
Horace Walpole on Prophecy
βPrognostics do not always prove prophecies, at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first.β
Horace Walpole on Tragedy
βA tragedy can never suffer by delay: a comedy may, because the allusions or the manners represented in it maybe temporary.β
What Horace Walpole Said About Others
Discover personal opinions Horace Walpole shared regarding contemporaries.
Horace Walpole on Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough 8 quotes
βLet me correct a story relating to the great duke of Marlborough. The duchess was pressing the duke to take a medicine, and with her usual warmth said, "I'll be hanged if it do not prove serviceable." Dr. Garth, who was present, exclaimed, "Do take it then my lord duke; for it must be of service, in one way or the other."β
Horace Walpole on George Grenville 3 quotes
βMr. Grenville was, confessedly, the ablest man of business in the House of Commons, and, though not popular, of great authority there from his spirit, knowledge, and gravity of character. His faults, however, had been capital, and to himself most afflicting. His injudicious Stamp Act had exposed us to the risk of seeing all our Colonies revolt.β
Horace Walpole on Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton 2 quotes
β[T]he Duke of Grafton like an apprentice, thinking the world should be postponed to a whore and a horse-race.β
Horace Walpole on Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham 2 quotes
βLord Sandwich having abused Lord Rockingham in the House of Lords, Lord Gower said to him, "Sandwich, how could you worry the poor dumb creature so!"β
Horace Walpole on Francis Atterbury 2 quotes
βHis letter in defence of the authenticity of Lord Clarendon's history, is one of the most beautifull & touching specimens of eloquence in our language.β
Horace Walpole on William Hogarth 2 quotes
βIt is to Hogarth's honour that in so many scenes of satire or ridicule, it is obvious that ill-nature did not guide his pencil. His end is always reformation, and his reproofs general.β
Horace Walpole on Robert Walpole 2 quotes
βIt was perhaps still more remarkable, and an instance unparalleled, that sir Robert governed George the first in Latin, the king not speaking English, and his minister no German, nor even French.β
Horace Walpole on William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham 2 quotes
βThe admirers of Mr Pitt extol the reverberation he gave to our councils, the despondence he banished, the spirit he infused, the conquests he made, the security he affixed to our trade and plantations, the humiliation of France, the glory of Britain carried under his administration to a pitch at which it never had arrived—and all this is exactly true.β
Horace Walpole on William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne 2 quotes
βHe not only had no principles, but was ready for any crime that suited his plans, which seemed drawn from histories of the worst agesβfor he was rather a pedant in villany, than a politician who adapted himself to the times in which he lived. Thus a Catiline or a Borgia were his models in an age when half their wickedness would have suited his purpose better.β
Horace Walpole on Alexander Pope
βOf all his works he was most proud of his garden.β
Horace Walpole on Thomas Chatterton
Horace Walpole on John Wesley
βWesley is a lean elderly man, fresh-coloured, his hair smoothly combed, but with a soupΓ§on of curl at the ends. Wondrous clean, but as evidently an actor as Garrick.β
Quotes About Horace Walpole
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Augustus Jessopp on Horace Walpole
βHe was born a writer of letters, and if he had been shut up in a desert island like Robinson Crusoe he would have written letters all the same, and kept them till some ship arrived which should carry them to their destination.β
Review of on Horace Walpole
βHis politics are always under the strong influence of party and often of faction, and his details of social life and personal character are rendered more amusing indeed, but less trustworthy, by a strong seasoning of scandal, and occasionally of malice. It is not given to man to be at once of a party, and impartial β to be a gossip, and not censorious. We do not take the characters of Lord Wharton or Sir Robert Walpole from Swift, nor should we from Horace Walpole those of Bute or North.β
Misattributed Quotes
Quotes mistakenly credited to Horace Walpole
βThe whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.β
About Horace Walpole
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), more commonly known as Horace Walpole, was a British politician and writer, noted for his collected letters and for having written the first Gothic horror novel, The Castle of Otranto (1764).