Copy Book Archive

A Little Common Sense William Pitt the Elder doubts the wisdom of letting experts run the country.
1769
Music: Muzio Clementi

© Christine Matthews, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source

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A Little Common Sense
In 1769, the colourful John Wilkes MP was repeatedly barred from taking up his seat in the Commons. William Pitt leapt to Wilkes’s defence in the Lords, not concealing his irritation that Lord Justice Mansfield had, in a speech of wit, learning and meticulous argument, completely misunderstood Pitt’s point.

THERE is one plain maxim, to which I have invariably adhered through life; that in every question, in which my liberty or my property were concerned, I should consult and be determined by the dictates of common sense.

I confess, my lords, that I am apt to distrust the refinements of learning, because I have seen the ablest and the most learned men equally liable to deceive themselves and to mislead others.

The condition of human nature would be lamentable indeed, if nothing less than the greatest learning and talents, which fall to the share of so small a number of men, were sufficient to direct our judgment and our conduct.

But providence has taken better care of our happiness, and given us, in the simplicity of common sense, a rule for our direction, by which we never shall be misled.*

* Pitt’s opinion was echoed by another Prime Minister a century later. See ‘Never Trust Experts’.

Précis

During a debate in the House of Lords in 1770, veteran statesman William Pitt ‘the Elder’ was faced by an eloquent and well-educated opponent. However, he stood his ground, saying that even very clever people can be wrong, and that we cannot imagine that only the handful of really clever people in the world know how to behave properly. (58 / 60 words)

Source

From A Speech given in the House of Lords on January 9th, 1770.

Suggested Music

Sonata in E flat Op. 12 No. 4

3: Rondeau: Allegro con spirito

Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)

Played by Vera Franceschi.

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