Quotes from Benjamin Disraeli

"Where little is done, little is said," observed Sheikh Hassan, "and Silence is the mother of Truth..."

A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning.

Nine-tenths of the existing books are nonsense and the clever books are the refutation of that nonsense.

The governments of the present day have to deal not merely with other governments, with emperors, kings and ministers, but also with the secret societies which have everywhere their unscrupulous agents, and can at the last moment upset all the governments' plans.

Knowledge must be gained by ourselves. Mankind may supply us with facts; but the results, even if they agree with previous ones, must be the work of our own minds.

What we anticipate seldom occurs: but what we least expect generally happens.

I have been ever of opinion that revolutions are not to be evaded.

There is no education like adversity.

Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning.

Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor.

Things must be done by parties, not by persons using parties as tools.

I am bound to furnish my antagonists with arguments but not with comprehension.

An amateur may not be an artist, though an artist should be an amateur.

In the study of the fine arts, they mutually assist each other.

In art the Greeks were the children of the Egyptians. The day may yet come when we shall do justice to the high powers of that mysterious and imaginative people.

Beauty can inspire miracles.

Novelty is an essential attribute of the beautiful.

I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.

Nothing can withstand the power of the human will if it is willing to stake its very existence to the extent of its purpose.

Adventures are to the adventurous.

Life is too short to be little.

If confidence is a plant of slow growth, credit is one which matures much more slowly.

Courage is fire and bullying is smoke.

The people of England are the most enthusiastic in the world.