Why, Sir, most schemes of political improvement are very laughable things.

I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son of God, is his private ail. Let this be righted, let the spring come to him, the morning rise over his couch, and he will forsake his generous companions without apology.

The amelioration of the world cannot be achieved by sacrifices in moments of crisis; it depends on the efforts made and constantly repeated during the humdrum, uninspiring periods, which separate one crisis from another, and of which normal lives mainly consist.

The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.

Turn where we may, within, around, the voice of great events is proclaiming to us, Reform, that you may preserve!

Every reform was once a private opinion, and when it shall be a private opinion again, it will solve the problem of the age.

Every abuse ought to be reformed, unless the reform is more dangerous than the abuse itself.

Reform is not pleasant, but grievous; no person can reform themselves without suffering and hard work, how much less a nation.

In England we have come to rely upon a comfortable time-lag of fifty years or a century intervening between the perception that something ought to be done and a serious attempt to do it.

To reform a world, to reform a nation, no wise man will undertake; and all but foolish men know, that the only solid, though a far slower reformation, is what each begins and perfects on himself.