“The glory of the nation you love is a desirable end, — but generally to be obtained at your neighbor's expense.”
Source: The Economic Consequences of the Peace (1919), Chapter III, p. 33
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John Maynard Keynes122
British economist 1883–1946Related quotes
Charles James Napier (1782–1853) Commander-in-Chief in British India
Shadwell, The Life of Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde. Vol. I, 108.
“Avoid shame, but do not seek glory, — nothing so expensive as glory.”
Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English writer and clergyman
Vol. I, ch. 4
Lady Holland's Memoir (1855)
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) 16th President of the United States
Fragment, Notes for a Law Lecture (1 July 1850?), cited in Abraham Lincoln: Complete Works, Comprising his Speeches, Letters, State Papers, and Miscellaneous Writings, Vol. 2 (1894)
1850s
Context: Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.
Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket? A moral tone ought to be infused into the profession which should drive such men out of it.
“To lose the thing we love is greater pain
Than to desire and never to obtain.”
Francesco Berni (1497–1535) Italian poet
Che lasciar quel che s'ama, e peggio assai
Che disiarlo, e non averlo mai.
XVII, 6
Rifacimento of Orlando Innamorato
“141. Love your neighbor, yet pull not downe your hedge.”
George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest
Jacula Prudentum (1651)
Girolamo Savonarola (1452–1498) Italian Dominican friar and preacher
Reported in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895) edited by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, p. 378
G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English mystery novelist and Christian apologist
Illustrated London News (16 July 1910)