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Robert Clive
8 quotes
“A very few days are elapsed since our arrival; and yet, if we consider what has already come to our knowledge, we cannot hesitate a moment upon the necessity of assuming the power that is in us of conducting, as a Select Committee, the affairs both civil and military of this settlement. What do we hear of, what do we see, but anarchy, confusion, and, what is worse, an almost general corruption.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1765 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to the Select Committee on the East India Company (7 May 1765), quoted in James Mill, The History of British India, Vol. III (1820), pp. 350–351
“Am I not rather deserving of praise for the moderation which marked my proceedings? Consider the situation in which the victory at Plassey had placed me. A great prince was dependent on my pleasure; an opulent city lay at my mercy, its richest bankers bid against each other for my smiles; I walked through vaults which were thrown open to me alone, piled on either hand with gold and jewels! Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation!”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1772 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Select Committee on the East India Company (c. April 1772), quoted in Alexander John Arbuthnot, Lord Clive: The Foundation of British Rule in India (1899), p. 207
“I will not patiently stand by and see a great Empire acquired by great abilities, perseverance and resolution, lost by ignorance and indolence.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1772 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Henry Strachey explaining why he had given Lord North his memorandum on Indian policy (7 November 1772), quoted in Mark Bence-Jones, Clive of India (1974), p. 277
“That the Americans will be sooner or later master of all the Spanish possessions and make Cape Horn the boundary of their empire, is beyond a doubt.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1772 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: ‘Considerations on the East India Company’ (24 November 1772), quoted in Mark Bence-Jones, Clive of India (1974), p. 296
“Leave me my honour, take away my fortune.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1773 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons defending his rule in India (21 May 1773), quoted in Mark Bence-Jones, Clive of India (1974), p. 287
“The reigning Shah whom the victory at Plassey invested with the sovereignty of these Provinces still, it is true, retains his attachment to us, and probably, while he has no other support, will continue to do so; but Mussulmans are so little influenced by gratitude that, should he ever think it his interest to break with us, the obligations he owes us would prove no restraint. ... Moreover, he is advanced in years, and his son is so cruel and worthless a young fellow, and so apparently an enemy to the English, that it will be almost unsafe trusting him with the succession. So small a body as 2000 Europeans will secure us from any apprehensions from either the one or the other; and in case of their daring to be troublesome, enable the Company to take the sovereignty upon themselves. There will be the less difficulty in bringing about such an event, as the natives themselves have no attachment whatever to particular princes; and as under the present Government they have no security for their lives or properties, they would rejoice in so happy an exchange as that of a mild for a despotic government.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1759 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to William Pitt (7 January 1759), quoted in Alexander John Arbuthnot, Lord Clive: The Foundation of British Rule in India (1899), p. 116
“I flatter myself I have made it pretty clear to you that there will be little or no difficulty in obtaining the absolute possession of these rich kingdoms; and that with the Moghul's own consent, on condition of paying him less than a fifth of the revenues thereof. Now I leave you to judge whether an income yearly of upwards of two millions sterling, with the possession of three provinces abounding in the most valuable productions of nature and of art, be an object deserving the public attention; and whether it be worth the nation's while to take the proper measures to secure such an acquisition; an acquisition which, under the management of so able and disinterested a Minister, would prove a source of immense wealth to the kingdom, and might in time be appropriated in part as a fund towards diminishing the heavy load of debt under which we at present labour. Add to these advantages the influence we shall thereby acquire over the several European nations engaged in the commerce here, which these could no longer carry on but through our indulgence, and under such limitations as we should think fit to prescribe. It is well worthy consideration that this project may be brought about without draining the mother country, as has been too much the case with our possessions in America.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1759 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to William Pitt (7 January 1759), quoted in Alexander John Arbuthnot, Lord Clive: The Foundation of British Rule in India (1899), pp. 118–119
“As to the fictitious treaty, Lord Clive informed your Committee, That ... Omichund had insisted upon 5 per cent, on all the Nabob's treasures...and threatened, if he did not comply with that demand, he would immediately acquaint Serajah Dowla with what was going on, and Mr. Watts should be put to death:—That when he received this advice, he thought art and policy warrantable in defeating the purposes of such a villain; and that his Lordship himself formed the plan of the fictitious treaty, to which the Committee consented; it was lent to Admiral Watson, who objected to the signing of it; but to the best of his remembrance gave the gentleman who carried it (Mr. Lushington) leave to sign his name upon it:—That his Lordship never made any secret of it; he thinks it warrantable in such a case, and would do it again a hundred times.”
Robert Clive (1725–1774) first seen 1772 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Select Committee on the East India Company (1772), quoted in Report from the Select Committee appointed to enquire into the nature, state and condition, of the East India Company, and of the British affair…