"[I]t was this man, more than any other, who forged again a European connection for Britain, who maintained the Coalition, and negotiated the settlement which in its main outlines was to last for over fifty years. Psychologists may well ponder how it came about that this Irish peer, whose career had given no indication of profound conceptions, should become the most European of British statesmen. No man more different from his great protagonist, Metternich, could be imagined. Metternich was elegant, facile, rationalist; Castlereagh, solid, ponderous, pragmatic; the former was witty and eloquent, if somewhat pedantic; the latter cumbersome in expression, although effective in debate; Metternich was doctrinaire and devious; Castlereagh, matter-of-fact and direct. Few individuals have left behind them such a paucity of personal reminiscences. Icy and reserved, Castlereagh walked his solitary path, as humanly unapproachable as his policy came to be incomprehensible to the majority of his countrymen. It was said of him that he was like a splendid summit of polished frost, icy, beautiful, aloof, of a stature that nobody could reach and few would care to."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
SuicidesMembers of the Parliament of the United KingdomMembers of the Parliament of Great BritainPresbyteriansGovernment ministers of the United Kingdom
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Henry Kissinger, A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of Peace 1812–1822 (1957; 1973), p. 30
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_Stewart%2C_Viscount_Castlereagh
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh
Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry (18 June 1769 – 12 August 1822), usually known as Lord Castlereagh, derived from the courtesy title Viscount Castlereagh, by which he was styled from 1796 to 1821, was an Anglo-Irish politician and statesman. As secretary to the Viceroy of Ireland, he worked to suppress the Rebellion of 1798 and to secure passage in 1800 of the Irish Act of Union. As the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom from 1812, he was central to the management of the coalitio
54 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh →
Related Quotes
"I still feel great doubts about the acquisition in sovereignty of so many Dutch colonies. I am sure our reputation on…"
"It is impossible not to perceive a great moral change coming on in Europe, and that the principles of freedom are in …"
"These arguments about natural defences and strategic boundaries are pushed too far. Real defence and security comes f…"
"If we are to undertake the job, we must leave nothing to chance. It must be done upon the largest scale... [Y]ou must…"
"You will fully appreciate the Parliamentary importance of not having imputed to us that Louis XVIII., by being made a…"
"I hope you will be able to make M. de Blacas and those about the king understand, that John Bull fights best, when he…"
"The steadiness of this country in the war will depend upon our making it clear that the Continent has voluntarily dec…"
"Fouché and men of his stamp are nowhere so little to be dreaded as in office, mixed up with other materials. Tyrants …"
"I much suspect neither Austria nor Prussia, and certainly none of the smaller Powers, have any sincere desire to brin…"
"It is not insurrection we now want in Italy, or elsewhere—we want disciplined force, under Sovereigns we can trust."