Henry Campbell-Bannerman Quotes

8 Sourced Quotes

What do we mean by this Liberalism of which we talk? … I should say it means the acknowledgement in practical life of the truth that men are best governed who govern themselves; that the general sense of mankind, if left alone, will make for righteousness; that artificial privileges and restraints upon freedom, so far as they are not required in the interests of the community, are hurtful; and that the laws, while, of course, they cannot equalise conditions, can, at least, avoid aggravating inequalities, and ought to have for their object the securing to every man the best chance he can have of a good and useful life.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
We are keenly in sympathy with the representatives of Labour. We have too few of them in the House of Commons.... The Liberal party, high and low, have discovered, if they ever forgot it, that the real road to success... lies in adhering to the old principles of the party.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Liberal politics meant the politics of common-sense.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
I am half-surprised to find that as I go on I get more and more confirmed in the old advanced Liberal principles, economic, social, & political, with which I entered Parliament 30 years ago.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
The right hon. gentleman is like the Bourbons. He has learned nothing. He comes back to this new House of Commons with the same airy graces – the same subtle dialectics – and the same light and frivolous way of dealing with great questions. He little knows the temper of the new House of Commons if he thinks those methods will prevail here. The right hon. gentleman has... asked certain questions which he seemed to think were posers.... I have no direct answer to give to them. They are utterly futile, nonsensical and misleading. They are invented by the right hon. gentleman for the purpose of occupying time in this debate. I say, enough of this foolery. … Move your amendments and let us get to business.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Good government could never be a substitute for government by the people themselves.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
We are satisfied that it is right because it gives the freest play to individual; energy and initiative and character and the largest liberty both to producer and consumer.... trade is injured when it is not allowed to follow its natural course, and when it is either hampered or diverted by artificial obstacles.... We believe in free trade because we believe in the capacity of our countrymen. That at least is why I oppose protection root and branch, veiled and unveiled, one-sided or reciprocal. I oppose it in any form. Besides we have experience of fifty years, during which our prosperity has become the envy of the world.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman
There is a phrase which seems in itself somewhat self-evident, which is often used to account for a good deal—that 'war is war'. But when you come to ask about it, then you are told that the war now going on is not war. [Laughter] When is a war not a war? When it is carried on by methods of barbarism in South Africa.

Henry Campbell-Bannerman