One-minute review: An interesting politician. People expected something very different from what he really was. They expected a caricature of a politician, but found that he was a sensitive human being with an original mind who said directly and earnestly what he needed to say. Who would ever expect to be fascinated by a speech on political economy, but people were when they heard Mr. Cobden speak on the subject. And now he is gone and no one can replace his unique character.
Ideas:
“…was most anxious to convince everyone of what he thought the truth….”
“Everyone felt that
“He never spoke ill of anyone. He arraigned principles, but not persons.”
“Mr. Cobden had a delicate dislike of offending other men’s opinions.”
“He was altogether a man of business speaking to men of business.”
“A speaker should convince his audience that he was a likely person to know.”
“Mr. Cobden’s habit of ‘coming to the point.’ ”
“…cut off before his time. A youth and manhood so spent as his well deserved a green old age.”
“…a rare gift—the gift of a unique character.”
“But what is before us we know not,/ And we know not what shall succeed.”
Great Essays. Ed. Houston Peterson.
What is an essay? “They are all prefaces. A preface is nothing but a talk with the reader; and they [essays] do nothing else.” Charles Lamb.
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