A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. BurkeReflections on the Revolution in France.
The people of the two nations [French and English] must be brought into mutual dependence by the supply of each others wants. There is no other way of counteracting the antagonism of language and race. It is Gods own method of producing an entente cordiale, and no other plan is worth a farthing. Richard CobdenLetter to M. Michel Chevalier. Sept., 1859. Entente cordiale, used by Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell, Sept. 7, 1848. Littré (Dict.) dates its use to speech in The Chamber of Deputies, 184041. Phrase in a letter written by the Dutch Governor-General at Batavia to the Bewinikebbers (directors) at Amsterdam, Dec. 15, 1657. See Notes and Queries, Sept. 11, 1909. P. 216. Early examples given in Stanford Dict. Cobden probably first user to make the phrase popular. Quoted also by Lord Aberdeen. Phrase appeared in the Foreign Quarterly Review, Oct., 1844. Used by Louis Philippe in a speech from the throne, Jan., 1843, to express friendly relations between France and England.
La cordiale entente qui existe entre le gouvernement français et celui de la Grande-Bretagne. The cordial agreement which exists between the governments of France and Great Britain. Le Charivari. Jan. 6, 1844. Review of a Speech by Guizot.
Si lon na pas de meilleurs moyen de sèduction a lui offrir, lentente cordiale nous paraît fort compromise. If one has no better method of enticement to offer, the cordial agreement seems to us to be the best compromise. Le Charivari. Vol. XV. No. 3. P. 4. (1846), referring to the ambassador of Morocco, then in Paris.
I have the courage of my opinions, but I have not the temerity to give a political blank cheque to Lord Salisbury. Goschen. In Parliament, Feb. 19, 1884.
Spheres of influence. Version of Earl Granvilles phrase. Spheres of action, found in his letter to Count Münster, April 29, 1885. Hertslets Map of Africa by Treaty. P. 596. Trans. May 7, 1885. See also phrase used in Convention between Great Britain and France, Aug. 10, 1889, in same. P. 562.
Statesman, yet friend to truth; of soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honour clear; Who broke no promise, servd no private end, Who gaind no title, and who lost no friend; Ennobled by himself, by all approvd, And praisd, unenvyd, by the Muse he lovd. PopeEpistle to Addison. L. 67.
Who would not praise Patricios high desert, His hand unstaind, his uncorrupted heart, His comprehensive head? all interests weighd, All Europe savd, yet Britain not betrayd. PopeMoral Essays. Ep. I. L. 82.
And statesmen at her council met Who knew the seasons when to take Occasion by the hand, and make The bounds of freedom wider yet. TennysonTo the Queen. St. 8.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation?Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground?Why by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humour or caprice? WashingtonFarewell Address. Sept. 17, 1796.
Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign worldso far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it. WashingtonFarewell Address. Sept. 17, 1796.
Legatus est vir bonus peregre missus ad mentiendem rei publicæ causæ. An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the commonwealth. Wotton. In the autograph album of Christopher Fleckamore. (1604). Eight years later Jasper Scioppius published it with malicious intent. Wotton apologized, but insisted on the double meaning of lie as a jest. A leiger is an ambassador. So used by ButlerHudibras. Pt. II. III. 139. Also by FullerHoly State. P. 306.