WIST Quotations

Walpole, Horace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

History is a romance that is believed; romance, a history that is not believed.

Horace Walpole (1717–1797) English novelist, letter writer
(Attributed)

Walpole, Horace -- A Note Book of Horace Walpole, “1781” (1927)

Dave — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:56:09 +0000

Lesson to the Indiscreet: They who say all they think, and tell all they know, put others on their guard and prevent themselves from being told anything of consequence.

Horace Walpole (1717–1797) English novelist, letter writer
A Note Book of Horace Walpole, “1781” (1927)

Walpole, Horace -- Memoirs of the Reign of King George III, Vol. 1, ch. 12 (1859)

Dave — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 22:44:35 +0000

Nations are most commonly saved by the worst men in them. The virtuous are too scrupulous to go to the lengths which are necessary to rouse the people against their tyrants.

Horace Walpole (1717–1797) English novelist, letter writer
Memoirs of the Reign of King George III, Vol. 1, ch. 12 (1859)
(Source)

Variants:

"The adventurer's career suggests the reflection that nations are usually saved by their worse men, since the virtuous are too scrupulous to go to the lengths needed to rouse the people against their tyrants." (Source)
"The virtuous are too scrupulous to go to the lengths that are necessary to rouse the people against their tyrants."
Modern paraphrase: "No great country was ever saved by good men because good men will not go to the lengths necessary to save it."
Modern paraphrase: "No great country was ever saved by good men, because good men may not go to the lengths that may be necessary."

Walpole, Horace -- Letter to Anne, Countess of Upper Ossory (16 Aug 1776)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

This world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.

Horace Walpole (1717–1797) English novelist, letter writer
Letter to Anne, Countess of Upper Ossory (16 Aug 1776)
(Source)

Walpole frequently used used this phrase or variants in letters (and in fact prefaces this quote with "I have often said ..."). Another example is an earlier letter to Horace Mann (31 Dec 1769):

I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel -- a solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.

It may be derived from an (unsourced) similar quote attributed Jean de La Bruyère: "Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think".

Walpole, Horace -- Letter to Horace Mann (27 May 1776)

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 16:53:22 +0000

To act with common sense according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know; and the best philosophy, to do one’s duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one’s lot; bless the Goodness that has given so much happiness with it, whatever it is; and despise affectation.

Horace Walpole (1717–1797) English novelist, letter writer
Letter to Horace Mann (27 May 1776)