Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British politician, novelist, and essayist, serving twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The anniversary of his death on 19 April is known as Primrose Day.
Biography information from
Wikiquote·
Portrait adapted from
Wikimedia Commons, Cornelius Jabez Hughes (Public domain / CC0)
Also Known As
Birth Name:
Benjamin D'Israeli
Alternative Names:
1st Earl of Beaconsfield Benjamin Disraeli
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Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield Disraeli
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Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
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Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield, Viscount Hughenden of Hughenden Disraeli
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Dizzy
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Lord Beaconsfield
How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.
[W]e have all heard how Mr. Cobden, who is a very eminent person, has said, in a very memorable speech, that England was the victim of the feudal system, and we have all heard how he has spoken of the barbarism of the feudal system, and of the barbarous relics of the feudal system. Now, if we have any relics of the feudal system, I regret that not more of it is remaining... Now, what is the fundamental principle of the feudal system, gentlemen? It is that the tenure of all property shall be the performance of its duties. Why, when the Conqueror carved out parts of the land, and introduced the feudal system, he said to the recipient, "You shall have that estate, but you shall do something for it: you shall feed the poor; you shall endow the Church; you shall defend the land in case of war; and you shall execute justice and maintain truth to the poor for nothing."
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