What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens - Benjamin Disraeli

What we learn from history is that we do not learn from history

For nearly five years the present Ministers have harassed every trade, worried every profession, and assailed or menaced every class, institution, and species of property in the country. Occasionally they have varied this state of civil warfare by perpetrating some job which outraged public opinion, or by stumbling into mistakes which have been always discreditable, and sometimes ruinous. All this they call a policy, and seem quite proud of it; but the country has, I think, made up its mind to close this career of plundering and blundering.

"If you wish to win a man"s heart, allow him to confute you.