“When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.”

— Benjamin Disraeli, Contarini Fleming, 1832, Part 6, Ch. 3

About Benjamin Disraeli

1804 – 1881

British statesman, twice Prime Minister, and novelist.

“I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.”

“Patience is a necessary ingredient of genius.”

“Man is not the creature of circumstances, circumstances are the creatures of men.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”