Benjamin Disraeli: Man

Benjamin Disraeli was British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Prime Minister. Explore interesting quotes on man.

Benjamin Disraeli: 612 quotes320 likes

“It is knowledge that influences and equalises the social condition of man; that gives to all, however different their political position, passions which are in common, and enjoyments which are universal.”

Benjamin Disraeli

"The Value of Literature to Men of Business," speech at the Manchester Athenaeum (23 October 1844), cited in Selected Speeches of the Late Right Honourable the Earl of Beaconsfield, Vol. 2 (1882), p. 625.
1840s

“Increased means and increased leisure are the two civilizers of man.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Source: Speech to the Conservatives of Manchester (3 April 1872), cited in The World's Best Orations from the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Vol. 1 (eds. David Josiah Brewer, Edward Archibald Allen, William Schuyler), pp. 309-338.

“The fool wonders, the wise man asks.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Count Alarcos: A Tragedy Act IV, sc. i.
Books

“The danger at such a moment is that designing politicians may take advantage of such sublime sentiments and may apply them for the furtherance of their sinister ends. I do not think there is any language which can denounce too strongly conduct of this description. He who at such a moment would avail himself of such a commanding sentiment in order to obtain his own individual ends, suggesting a course which he may know to be injurious to the interests of the country, and not favourable to the welfare of mankind, is a man whose conduct no language can too strongly condemn. He outrages the principle of patriotism, which is the soul of free communities. He does more—he influences in the most injurious manner the common welfare of humanity. Such conduct, if it be pursued by any man at this moment, ought to be indignantly reprobated by the people of England; for, in the general havoc and ruin which it may bring about, it may, I think, be fairly described as worse than any of those Bulgarian atrocities which now occupy attention.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Source: Speech to the annual meeting of the Royal and Central Bucks Agricultural Association in Aylesbury (20 September 1876), quoted in 'Lord Beaconsfield At Aylesbury', The Times (21 September 1876), p. 6.

“When a man fell into his anecdotage, it was a sign for him to retire.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Source: Books, Coningsby (1844), Lothair (1870), Ch. 28.

“Man is not a rational animal. He is only truly good or great when he acts from passion.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Book 6, chapter 12.
Books, Coningsby (1844), Henrietta Temple (1837)

“Beware of endeavouring to become a great man in a hurry. One such attempt in ten thousand may succeed: these are fearful odds.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Book I, Chapter 10.
Books, Coningsby (1844), Vivian Grey (1826)

“If a man be gloomy, let him keep to himself. No one has a right to go croaking about society, or, what is worse, looking as if he stifled grief.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Book V, Chapter 1.
Books, Coningsby (1844), The Young Duke (1831)

“A man's fate is his own temper.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Book VI, Chapter 7.
Books, Coningsby (1844), Vivian Grey (1826)

“What is the question now placed before society with the glib assurance the most astounding? That question is this—Is man an ape or an angel? My lord, I am on the side of the angels.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Variant: The question is this— Is man an ape or an angel? My Lord, I am on the side of the angels. I repudiate with indignation and abhorrence these new fanged theories.
Variant: Is man an ape or an angel? Now, I am on the side of the angels!
Source: Speech at Oxford Diocesan Conference (25 November 1864), quoted in William Flavelle Monypenny and George Earle Buckle, The Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. Volume II. 1860–1881 (1929), p. 108

“The Athanasian Creed is the most splendid ecclesiastical lyric ever poured forth by the genius of man.”

Benjamin Disraeli

Source: Books, Coningsby (1844), Endymion (1880), Ch. 52.

“Gentl, I am a party man. I believe that, without party, Parliamentary government is impossible. I look upon Parliamentary government as the noblest government in the world, and certainly the one most suited to England.”

Benjamin Disraeli