“Were floods of tears to be unloosed In tribute to my grief, The doves of Noah ne'er had roost Nor found an olive-leaf.”

“Prudence must not be expected from a man who is never sober.[Lat., Non est ab homine nunquam sobrio postulanda prudentia.]”

“There is nothing proper about what you are doing, soldier, but do try to kill me properly.”

“No sober person dances.”

“A thankful heart is the greatest virtue.”

“Indeed I do not think we should be justified in using any but the more sombre tones and colours while our people, our Empire, and indeed the whole English-speaking world are passing through a dark and deadly valley.”

“Like other systems in decay, the Roman Empire continued to function for several generations after its vitality was sapped. For nearly a hundred years our Island was one of the scenes of conflict between a dying civilisation and lusty, famishing barbarism.”

“An empire is an immense egotism.”