Top 12 Quotes by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Сrown. It may be frail - its roof may shake - the wind may blow through it - the storm may enter - the rain may enter - but the King of England

The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Сrown. It may be frail - its roof may shake - the wind may blow through it - the storm may enter - the rain may enter - but the King of England cannot enter.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Kings, Rain, Blow

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham's speech on the Excise Bill in the House of Commons (March 1763), as quoted in Lord Brougham "Historical Sketches of Statesmen Who Flourished in the Time of George III, Volume I" (p. 42), 1839.

I would have it inscribed on the curtains of your bed and the walls of your chamber: "If you do not rise early you can make progress in nothing."

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Wall, Progress, Bed

Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Government, Political, Mind

William Pitt (1st earl of Chatham.) (1839). “Correspondence, ed. by [W.S. Taylor and J.H. Pringle] the executors of his son John, earl of Chatham”, p.387

Where laws end, tyranny begins.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Law, Ends, Tyranny

William Pitt (1st earl of Chatham.) (1839). “Correspondence, ed. by [W.S. Taylor and J.H. Pringle] the executors of his son John, earl of Chatham”, p.387

An eagerness and zeal for dispute on every subject, and with every one, shows great self-sufficiency, that never-failing sign of great self-ignorance.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Ignorance, Self, Failing

Theoretical principals must sometimes give way for the sake of practical advantages.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Giving, Sake, Way

Unlimited power corrupts the possessor; and this I know, that, where law ends, there tyranny begins.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Law, Power Corrupts, Ends

Concession comes with better grace and more salutary effect from superior power.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Peace, Grace, Effects

The little I know of it has not served to raise my opinion of what is vulgarly called the Monied Interest; I mean, that blood-sucker, that muckworm, that calls itself the friend of government.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Business, Mean, Government

I know that I can save this country and that no one else can.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Country, Knows, I Can

Bowing, ceremonious, formal compliments, stiff civilities, will never be politeness; that must be easy, natural, unstudied; and what will give this but a mind benevolent and attentive to exert that amiable disposition in trifles to all you converse and live with?

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Giving, Mind, Compliment