“I wish I could take a raincheck on June 18.1815”

“It's not the size of the army but the power within the army.”

“The heart of a statesman should be in his head.”

“My enemies make appointments at my tomb.”

“The first quality of the commander-in-chief is a cool head to receive a correct impression of things. He should not allow himself to be confused by either good or bad news.”

“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.”