American democracy must be a failure because it places the supreme authority in the hands of the poorest and most ignorant part of the society.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods?

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

As civilization advances, poetry almost necessarily declines.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

Few of the many wise apothegms which have been uttered have prevented a single foolish action.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

His imagination resembled the wings of an ostrich. It enabled him to run through not to soar.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

It seems that the creative faculty and the critical faculty cannot exist together in their highest perfection.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

Nothing except the mint can make money without advertising.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

Perhaps no person can be a poet, or even enjoy poetry, without a certain unsoundness of mind.

— Thomas Babington Macaulay

Pour, varlet, pour the water The water steaming hot! A spoonful for each man of us Another for the pot!

— Thomas Babington Macaulay