Lord Melbourne — British Statesman born on December 30, 1779,

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, usually addressed as Lord Melbourne, PC FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister. He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18–21, in the ways of politics. Historians conclude that Melbourne does not rank high as a prime minister, for there were no great foreign wars or domestic issues to handle, he lacked major achievements, and he enunciated no grand principles. "But he was kind, honest, and not self-seeking." Melbourne was dismissed by the King in 1834, the last Prime Minister to have been dismissed by a Monarch... (wikipedia)

Nobody ever did anything very foolish except from some strong principle.
Once is orthodox, twice is puritanical.
It wounds a man less to confess that he has failed in any pursuit through idleness, neglect, the love of pleasure, etc., etc., which are his own faults, than through incapacity and unfitness, which are the faults of his nature.
My esoteric doctrine, is that if you entertain any doubt, it is safest to take the unpopular side in the first instance. Transit from the unpopular, is easy... but from the popular to the unpopular is so steep and rugged that it is impossible to maintain it.
It is not much matter which we say, but mind, we must all say the same.