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Charles James Fox
64 quotes
“What acquaintance have the people at large with the arcana of political rectitude, with the connections of kingdoms, the resources of national strength, the abilities of ministers, or even with their own dispositions? ... I pay no regard whatever to the voice of the people: it is our duty to do what is proper, without considering what may be agreeable.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1771 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (25 March 1771), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. I (1815), pp. 13–14
“Religion was best understood when least talked of.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1773 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (7 February 1773), quoted in Lord John Russell (ed.), Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox. Volume I (1853), p. 71
“Kings, Sir, govern by means of popular assemblies, only because they cannot do without them; to suppose a king fond of that mode of governing, is to suppose a chimera.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1776 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the House of Commons (31 October 1776), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. I (1815), p. 61
“There is no man who hates the power of the crown more, or who has a worse opinion of the Person to whom it belongs than I.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1779 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Edmund Burke (24 January 1779), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 41
“[T]he question now was, whether the British constitution, "that beautiful fabric, raised by the steadiness of our ancestors, and cemented by the best blood of the country!" ... whether that beautiful fabric, raised by the steadiness of our ancestors, and cemented by the best blood of our country, was to be maintained in that freedom, in that purity, in that perfection, in which those ancestors had delivered it to us, and for which, that blood had been spilt; or whether we were to submit to that system of despotism, which had so many advocates in this country.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1780 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (24 April 1780), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. I (1815), p. 261
“Gentlemen, the malicious and groundless Reports which have been spread, make it necessary for me to assure you, that notwithstanding all that has been said, I never have supported, nor ever will support, any Measure which can by any Means be prejudicial to the Protestant Religion, or in any way tend to establish Popery in this Kingdom.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1780 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement to his constituents after the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots (14 September 1780)
“It is intolerable that it should be in the power of one blockhead to do so much mischief.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1781 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Mr. Fitzpatrick on George III (9 September 1781), quoted in John Brooke, George III (Panther, 1974), pp. 363-364
“On speaking to Mr. Fox (who had just received the seals as Secretary of State) on the important event of the day, he said certainly things look very well, but he, meaning the K[ing], will dye soon, and that will be best of all.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1783 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to Lord Carmarthen (27 March 1783), quoted in Oscar Browning (ed.), The Political Memoranda of Francis Fifth Duke of Leeds (1884), pp. 65-66, n.
“[I] charged Mr. Pitt with having come into office upon unconstitutional grounds, and upon such principles as were disgraceful to himself, disgusting to the country, and such as must necessarily deprive him and his coadjutors of the confidence of that House.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1784 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (12 January 1784), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 75
“Those principles which brought about the glorious revolution, which seated his majesty's illustrious family upon the throne, and which have preserved the liberty of this constitution, have ever been the inviolable rule of my political conduct.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1784 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address to the electors of Westminster (26 April 1784), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. II (1815), pp. 438-439
“The true simple question of the present dispute is, whether the House of Lords and Court Influence shall predominate over the House of Commons, and annihilate its existence, or whether the House of Commons...shall have power to....regulate the prerogative of the Crown, which was ever ready to seize upon the freedom of the Electors of this country.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1784 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to his constituents in Westminster (1784), quoted in W. T. Laprade, 'William Pitt and the Westminster Election', American Historical Review, 23 (1912), p. 263
“The worst of revolutions is a restoration.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1785 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the House of Commons (10 December 1785)
“I stand, said Mr. Fox, upon this great principle. I say that the people of England have a right to control the executive power, by the interference of their representatives in this House of parliament. The right honourable gentleman [William Pitt] maintains the contrary. He is the cause of our political enmity.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1786 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (27 February 1786), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. III (1815), p. 201
“It behoved them, therefore, to waste not a moment unnecessarily, but to proceed with all becoming speed and all becoming diligence to restore the sovereign power and the exercise of the royal authority... In his firm opinion, his royal highness the Prince of Wales had as clear, as express a right to assume the reins of government, and exercise the power of sovereignty, during the continuance of the illness and incapacity with which it had pleased God to afflict his majesty, as in the case of his majesty's having undergone a natural and perfect demise.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1788 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons advocating the Prince of Wales being appointed Regent (10 December 1788), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. III (1815), pp. 40…
“How much the greatest event it is that ever happened in the world! and how much the best!”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1789 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Mr. Fitzpatrick on the fall of the Bastille (30 July 1789), printed in J. Russell (ed.), Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox. Volume II (1853), p. 361
“To suppose a man wicked or immoral, merely on account of any difference of religious opinion, was as false as it was absurd; yet this was the original principle of persecution.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1790 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (2 March 1790), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. IV (1815), p. 57
“[H]e was indebted to his right honourable friend [Edmund Burke] for the greatest share of the political knowledge he possessed,—his political education had been formed under him,—his instructions had invariably governed his principles.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1790 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (2 March 1790), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. IV (1815), p. 72
“Toleration in religion was one of the great rights of man, and a man ought never to be deprived of what was his natural right.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1791 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (1 March 1791), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. IV (1815), p. 147
“[H]e thought one of the most splendid triumphs of Christianity was, its having caused slavery to be so generally abolished, as soon as ever it appeared in the world. One obvious ground on which it did this, was by teaching us, that in the sight of Heaven all mankind are equal. The same effect might be expected also from the general principles which it taught. Its powerful influence appeared to have done more in this respect than all the ancient systems of philosophy; though even in them, in point of theory, we might trace great liberality and consideration for human rights.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1791 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (19 April 1791), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. IV (1815), p. 192
“Where could be found finer sentiments of liberty, than in the works of Demosthenes and Cicero? Where should we meet with bolder assertions of the rights of mankind, and the dignity of human nature, than in the historians Tacitus and Thucydides?”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1791 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (19 April 1791), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. IV (1815), p. 192
“Any thing that proves that it is not in the power of Kings and Princes by their great armies to have every thing their own way is of such good example that without any good will to the French one can not help being delighted by it, and you know I have a natural partiality to what some people call rebels.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1792 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Mrs. Armitstead (7 October 1792), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 125
“The people had been told by their representatives in parliament that they were surrounded with dangers, and had been shewn none. They were, therefore, full of suspicion and prompt of belief. All this had a material tendency to impede freedom of discussion, for men would speak with reserve, or not speak at all, under the terror of calumny.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1793 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (1 February 1793), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 26
“Was it not a situation of the country horrible to relate, that men's correspondence and conversation were to be pried into with such inquisitorial jealousy, as to make it dangerous for them to commit their thoughts to paper, or to converse with a stranger but in the presence of a third person? Let the House do away all these suspicions and rumours by an honest inquiry, and restore the public to that freedom and confidence, both of writing and speech, which it was the pride of our constitution to bestow, and which became the frank and open character of a free people.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1793 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (4 March 1793), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 61
“To deny to the people the right of discussion, because upon some occasions, that right had been exercised by indiscreet or bad men, was what he could not subscribe to. The right of popular discussion was a salutary and an essential privilege of the subject. He would not answer long for the conduct of parliament, if it were not subject to the jealousy of the people.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1794 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (17 May 1794), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 289
“In his opinion, the best security for the due maintenance of the constitution, was in the strict and incessant vigilance of the people over parliament itself. Meetings of the people, therefore, for the discussion of public objects, were not merely legal, but laudable.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1794 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (17 May 1794), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 289
“His opinion, indeed, was well known to those, who had done him the honour to attend to him; it was, that at all times, in all countries, and upon all occasions, there should be no distinctions in political rights, on account of religious opinions. He thought that the prejudices of the people were, generally speaking, worthy of attention. But when prejudices bent against the general principles of toleration, he did not think them entitled to much respect.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (19 May 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 461
“He would have religious toleration as equal as the laws of England, and that all men should be estimated in society by their morals, and not by the mode of religious worship. To root out prejudices altogether was not a thing to be accomplished at once; but it was a thing to be attempted, and every step towards it would be an advantage to the country.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (19 May 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 465
“...a greater evil than the restoration of the Bourbons to the world in general, and England in particular, can hardly happen.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Holland (28 July 1795), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 160
“Peace is the wish of the French of Italy Spain Germany and all the world, and Great Britain alone the cause of preventing its accomplishment, and this not for any point of honour or even interest, but merely lest there should be an example in the modern world of a great powerful Republic.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Holland (7 August 1795), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), pp. 161-162
“But at no one time had he given an unqualified opinion of the governments which succeeded that event [the abolition of the French monarchy]; much less would he stand pledged to give the least countenance to the scenes of blood and cruelty which had been the almost inseparable attendants on the varied and successive governments that followed one another. He formed his opinion of government by the test of practice, and not by the theory and on paper.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (29 October 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. V (1815), p. 505
“In countries where men may openly state their grievances and boldly claim redress, the effect of their complaints and remonstrances may, indeed, for a time be obstructed by the operation of ministerial corruption and intrigue; but perseverance must ultimately be effectual in procuring them relief. But if you take away all legal means of obtaining that object, if you silence remonstrance and stifle complaint, you then leave no other alternative but force and violence.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Treason Bill and Seditious Practices Bill (10 November 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), p. 8
“I admire the British constitution, because it gives scope to the people to exercise the right of political discussion; not merely with the permission of a magistrate, or under the control of an executive force, but on all occasions to state, in bold and plain words, the grievances which they feel, and the redress which they desire.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Treason Bill and Seditious Practices Bill (10 November 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), pp. 8-9
“There appears to me to be no device at present but between an absolute surrender of the liberties of the People and a vigorous exertion... My view of things is I own very gloomy, and I am convinced that in a few years this Government will become completely absolute, or that confusion will arise of a nature almost as much to be deprecated as despotism itself... This is a great Crisis.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Holland (15 November 1795), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 140
“He declared he could discover nothing in the present state of the country that could justify this new infringement on the liberties of the subject intended by the bill. So far from it, the power and influence of the crown were obviously so enormous that all the liberty that subsisted in the country was preserved only by the freedom of speech and the liberty of the press; if either of these were given up, or in any degree taken away, the only barrier that we had against the annihilation of liberty would be completely destroyed.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Treason Bill and Seditious Practices Bill (16 November 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), p. 14
“Upon the liberty of the press and freedom of discussion, the basis of the constitution was known to rest. Take away these, and the whole fabric most fall.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Treason Bill and Seditious Practices Bill (17 November 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), p. 26
“[W]hen the power of speaking was taken away, what was there left but the patience of implicit submission? What hopes could be entertained that grievances would be removed when those who felt them dared not complain? In such a case, it would give him but little anxiety that a spirit of resistance was found impossible to be suppressed.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Treason Bill and Seditious Practices Bill (17 November 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), p. 26
“This is the last opportunity, (said Mr. Fox,) that I may have to state my sentiments with respect to these bills. I feel it therefore incumbent upon me to declare, that my objections still remain unimpaired. The one is calculated to prevent the liberty of speech; the other the liberty of writing and publishing. If these bills be carried into effect, and if their influence extend to the national character, other nations will be enabled to say, that England, which has conquered others, has at last made a shameful conquest of herself.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1795 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Treason Bill and Seditious Practices Bill (10 December 1795), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), p. 80
“Our Sovereign's Health, the Majesty of the People.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1746 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Howard, Charles (1746-1815)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
Also quoted by: Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk
“That a great General like Bonaparte should be inclined to military means of effecting a military Government is less to be wondered at than lamented...by taking the common & beaten path of Ambition he has...done much against the liberty of mankind in every part of the world...The only good that could come from this Event, so pernicious to the cause of general Liberty, was Peace, and that you see our Ministers are determined to refuse.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1800 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Christopher Wyvill (8 January 1800), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 166
“[Napoleon has now] surpassed...Alexander & Caesar, not to mention the great advantage he has over them in the Cause he fights in.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1800 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Denis O'Bryen (16 July 1800), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 167
“As to Bonaparte, you know what my apprehensions always were, and I can not help thinking they are in a great degree verified. For though he may, and I hope he will, trounce the Austrians...yet it is impossible to deny that he has lost, or at least risqued the losing of an opportunity. Every man has his weak side, and I have always thought Bonaparte's was the thinking Austria more inclined to peace and more to be depended upon than She is. I hope to God he will not suffer from his errour.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1800 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to R. Fitzpatrick (10 September 1800), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 168
“Why Egypt should be of such importance either to the French or to Us I never could discover and I have always thought the Expedition there the foolishest part, perhaps the only foolish part of Bonaparte's Conduct, unless perhaps he had some views in it connected with the internal Politicks of France of which we are not informed, or (which I have always suspected) that he had a desire to be out of the way of either accepting or refusing the command of an army destined to invade England.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1801 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to H. E. Fox (15 May 1801), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 168
“...for the truth is, I am gone something further in hate to the English Government than perhaps you and the rest of my friends are, and certainly further than can with prudence be avowed. The triumph of the French Government over the English does in fact afford me a degree of pleasure which it is very difficult to disguise.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1764 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Grey (22 October 1801), quoted in E. A. Smith, Lord Grey. 1764-1845 (1996), p. 86
“As to War I can only say that my opinion is clearly that it will not be. I can tell you my reasons for this opinion in two sentences. 1st. I am sure that Bonaparte will do everything that he can to avoid it. 2nd. that, low as my opinion is of our Ministry, I cannot believe them quite so foolish as to force him to it, without one motive either of ambition or interest to incite them.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1802 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Lauderdale (18 November 1802), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 177
“Bonaparte's wish is Peace, nay that he is afraid of war to the last degree.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1802 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Charles Grey (12 December 1802), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 201
“There is not a power in Europe, no not even Bonaparte's that is so unlimited [as the British monarchy].”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1804 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Holland (9 January 1804), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 194
“So fully am I impressed with the vast importance and necessity of attaining what will be the object of my motion this night, that if, during the almost forty years that I have had the honour of a seat in parliament, I had been so fortunate as to accomplish that, and that only, I should think I had done enough, and could retire from public life with comfort, and the conscious satisfaction, that I had done my duty.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1806 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons in favour of the abolition of the slave trade (10 June 1806), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. VI (1815), p. 659
“I die happy.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) said by 1806 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Last words. Quoted in Lord John Russell Life and Times of C J Fox, Vol.3 (1860), Ch. 9.
“The war of the Americans is a war of passion; it is of such a nature as to be supported by the most powerful virtues, love of liberty and of country, and at the same time by those passions in the human heart which give courage, strength, and perseverance to man; the spirit of revenge for the injuries you have done them, of retaliation for the hardships inflicted on them, and of opposition to the unjust powers you would have exercised over them; every thing combines to animate them to this war, and such a war is without end; for whatever obstinacy enthusiasm ever inspired man with, you will now have to contend with in America: no matter what gives birth to that enthusiasm, whether the name of religion or of liberty, the effects are the same; it inspires a spirit that is unconquerable, and solicitous to undergo difficulties and dangers; and as long as there is a man in America, so long will you have him against you in the field.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1778 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (26 November 1778), quoted in The Speeches of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, in the House of Commons. Vol. I (1815), p. 137
“...against which we should direct all our force, the navy of France: in the destruction of her marine we might see some hope of recovering America; but while our army remained in that country, we were to expect nothing from its operations. On the continent of Europe, it might be employed; there we might contend with France, in a manner that would make her feel that her own consequence was at stake. But the old Whig system of alliances on the continent had been given up, and we were left to fight all our battles by ourselves. If these alliances were renewed, France might then be taught, that rashness, not prudence, had made her enter into the American confederacy...America...might be won in Europe, while England might be ruined in America.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1778 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (14 December 1778), quoted in the The Parliamentary History of England, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803. Vol. XX (1814), p. 79