George Savile Quotes

Powerful George Savile for Daily Growth

About George Savile

George Savile, Baronet (1633-1695), was an influential English politician, philosopher, and satirist during the Restoration period. Born in Thornhill, Dorset, England, on August 28, 1633, he was the eldest son of Sir William Savile, 3rd Baronet, and Mary Savage. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, but his unruly behavior led to his expulsion from both institutions. Savile's political career began in earnest when he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Hedon in 1659 during the Second Protectorate Parliament under Oliver Cromwell. Despite his early life troubles, Savile proved himself to be an astute politician and was appointed Solicitor-General in 1660 by King Charles II. Savile's philosophical works, particularly "The Character of Honesty" (1684), were groundbreaking for their time. He applied a skeptical, scientific approach to moral philosophy, which earned him the nickname "the first modern moral philosopher." His work explored the relationship between morality and self-interest, prefiguring many ideas later developed by thinkers such as David Hume and Adam Smith. Savile's satirical wit was also celebrated. He wrote "The Court of Augsburg" (1675), a scathing critique of the court of Charles II, using allegory to express his disdain for political hypocrisy. His work was influential in shaping the genre of political satire. In 1683, Savile was created a baronet, and he died in London on March 27, 1695. Despite his troubled youth and controversial political and philosophical views, George Savile left an indelible mark on both the political landscape of 17th-century England and the development of modern moral philosophy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"He that can take a broad view will seldom look through a narrow glass."

This quote by George Savile suggests that individuals who are able to see things from a wider perspective, or with a broader understanding, will typically not be limited by narrow-mindedness or prejudice when viewing situations. In essence, it implies that a comprehensive and holistic approach can lead to clearer insights and less biased judgments in life.


"For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost."

This quote emphasizes the concept of the "butterfly effect" or chain reaction, suggesting that seemingly insignificant events or actions can have far-reaching and unforeseen consequences. In this case, the loss of a simple nail causes a series of domino effects, leading to the loss of a horse, rider, and potentially much more in the grand scheme of things. It serves as a reminder that we should not underestimate the importance of small actions or details, as they can set significant events into motion.


"The greatest obstacle to any political or moral progress is the prevailing idea that there is no need of any change."

The quote by George Savile suggests that complacency, the belief that current conditions are satisfactory and require no alteration, is a significant impediment to both political and moral advancement. This mindset prevents people from questioning the status quo or envisioning improvements, thereby stifling progress. To foster change, it's essential to challenge preconceived notions and actively seek out new ways of thinking and doing things.


"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to see if they are on safe ground, never can make a great and original discovery."

This quote by George Savile suggests that individuals who prioritize safety and caution over exploration and risk-taking may not make significant or innovative discoveries. Essentially, he's saying that fear of failure or a lack of daring can hinder progress and limit the potential for great achievements. To discover something original, one must be willing to venture into uncharted territories and challenge established norms.


"Revolution is but rearrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic."

This quote suggests that a revolution, or a significant change in a system, is merely cosmetic rather than addressing the underlying issues. Just as rearranging chairs on a sinking ship (the Titanic) doesn't prevent it from sinking, making sweeping changes in a flawed system without fixing the root problems won't ensure its survival or success. It implies that true transformation requires a fundamental overhaul of the system, not just superficial alterations.


The vanity of teaching doth oft tempt a man to forget that he is a blockhead.

- George Savile

Forget, Doth, Tempt, Oft

The best Qualification of a Prophet is to have a good Memory.

- George Savile

Memory, Qualification, Good Memory

A prince who will not undergo the difficulty of understanding must undergo the danger of trusting.

- George Savile

Will, Difficulty, Must, Undergo

Men are not hanged for stealing horses, but that horses may not be stolen.

- George Savile

Men, May, Hanged, Stolen

A princely mind will undo a private family.

- George Savile

Mind, Will, Private, Undo

Our nature hardly allows us to have enough of anything without having too much.

- George Savile

Nature, Having, Too, Hardly

Nothing has an uglier look to us than reason, when it is not on our side.

- George Savile

Reason, Nothing, Side, Uglier

The sight of a drunkard is a better sermon against that vice than the best that was ever preached on that subject.

- George Savile

Better, Vice, Ever, Drunkard

Malice is of a low stature, but it hath very long arms.

- George Savile

Low, Stature, Very, Malice

A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.

- George Savile

Patience, Man, Else, Everything Else

There is reason to think the most celebrated philosophers would have been bunglers at business; but the reason is because they despised it.

- George Savile

Think, Reason, Most, Philosophers

Many men swallow the being cheated, but no man can ever endure to chew it.

- George Savile

Men, Swallow, Ever, Cheated

Laws are generally not understood by three sorts of persons, viz, by those who make them, by those who execute them, and by those who suffer if they break them.

- George Savile

Laws, Break, Viz, Understood

Some men's memory is like a box where a man should mingle his jewels with his old shoes.

- George Savile

Memory, Some, Like, Jewels

Hope is generally a wrong guide, though it is good company along the way.

- George Savile

Good Company, Along, Though, Guide

Love is a passion that hath friends in the garrison.

- George Savile

Love, Passion, Hath, Love Is

Popularity is a crime from the moment it is sought; it is only a virtue where men have it whether they will or no.

- George Savile

Men, Will, Whether, Popularity

No man is so much a fool as not to have wit enough sometimes to be a knave; nor any so cunning a knave as not to have the weakness sometimes to play the fool.

- George Savile

Play, Sometimes, Cunning, Wit

If the laws could speak for themselves, they would complain of the lawyers.

- George Savile

Lawyers, Laws, Would, Complain

Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught.

- George Savile

Education, Been, Taught, Forgotten

He that leaveth nothing to chance will do few things ill, but he will do very few things.

- George Savile

Chance, Will, Very, Few Things

The best way to suppose what may come, is to remember what is past.

- George Savile

Remember, May, Best Way, Suppose

A husband without faults is a dangerous observer.

- George Savile

Husband, Dangerous, Faults, Observer

When the people contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything by their victory but new masters.

- George Savile

Liberty, New, Seldom, Masters

Most men make little use of their speech than to give evidence against their own understanding.

- George Savile

Give, Evidence, Use, Speech

A man man may dwell so long upon a thought that it may take him prisoner.

- George Savile

Thought, May, Take, Prisoner

They who are of the opinion that Money will do everything, may very well be suspected to do everything for Money.

- George Savile

Money, May, Very, Suspected

Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.

- George Savile

Anger, Never, Seldom, Argument

Nothing would more contribute to make a man wise than to have always an enemy in his view.

- George Savile

Wise, View, Always, Enemy

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