
“Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.”
Regarding slavery (1862), as quoted in Garfield: A Biography (1978), by Allan Peskin, p. 145
1860s
Context: We do not even inquire whether a black man is a rebel in arms, or not, if he is black, be he friend or foe, he is thought best kept at a distance. It is hardly possible God will let us succeed while such enormities are practiced.
“Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.”
“If we fail, let us try again and again until we succeed.”
As a response to Prime Minister Gladstone's criticism of Chamberlain's "Radical Programme," from a Speech at Warrington, cited in "Great Issues in Western Civilization, Volume II" (Donald Kagan, 1992), pg. 419.
1880s
2010-, Ai Weiwei Says Blind Dissident’s Escape Will Inspire Chinese, 2012
The Beast of Property (1884)
“Japanese management practices succeed simply because they are good management practices.”
A Last Scrap Book (London: Macmillan, 1924) p. 42
Book VIII, Chapter 4.
Books, Coningsby (1844), Vivian Grey (1826)
Source: The Doctrine of the Mean