In politics, merit is rewarded by the possessor being raised, like a target, to a position to be fired at.

• There is great beauty in going through life without anxiety or fear. Half our fears are baseless, and the other half discreditable.
• Next to being witty, the best thing is being able to quote another's wit.
• Courage enlarges, cowardice diminishes resources. In desperate straits the fears of the timid aggravate the dangers that imperil the brave.
• A failure establishes only this, that our determination to succeed was not strong enough.
• They are the weakest, however strong, who have no faith in themselves or their own powers.
• We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.
• There is great beauty in going through life without anxiety or fear. Half our fears are baseless, and the other half discreditable.
• Good men have the fewest fears. He has but one great fear who fears to do wrong he has a thousand who has overcome it.
• Music is the fourth great material want, first food, then clothes, then shelter, then music.
• When all else is lost, the future still remains.