You will find as you grow older that courage is the rarest of all qualities to be found in public life.

Gentlemen, I am a party man. I believe that, without party, Parliamentary government is impossible. I look upon Parliamentary government as the noblest government in the world, and certainly the one most suited to England. Speech to the Conservatives of Manchester (1872-04-03)

Coalitions though successful have always found this, that their triumph has been brief. Speech to House of Commons (1852-12-16)