AblermeninDowningStreet，ablermentogovernus：yes，that，sureenough，wouldgraduallyremovethedung-mountains，howeverhightheyare；thatwouldbetheway，noristhereanyotherway，toremedywhatsoeverhasgonewronginDowningStreetandinthewideregions，spiritualandtemporal，whichDowningStreetpresidesover！FortheAbleMan，meethimwhereyoumay，isdefinableasthebornenemyofFalsityandAnarchy，andthebornsoldierofTruthandOrder：intowhatabsurdestelementsoeveryouputhim，heistheretomakeitalittlelessabsurd，tofightcontinuallywithittillitbecomealittlesaneandhumanagain。Peaceonothertermshe，forhispart，cannotmakewithit；nothe，whilehecontinues_able_，orpossessedofrealintellectandnotimaginary。Thereisbutonemanfraughtwithblessingsforthisworld，fatedtodiminishandsuccessivelyabolishthecursesoftheworld；anditishe。Forhimmakesearch，himreverenceandfollow；knowthattofindhimormisshim，meansvictoryordefeatforyou，inallDowningStreets，andestablishmentsandenterprisesherebelow——IleaveyourLordshiptojudgewhetherthishasbeenourpracticehitherto；andwouldhumblyinquirewhatyourLordshipthinksislikelytobetheconsequenceofcontinuingtoneglectthis。Itoughttohavebeenourpractice；ought，inallplacesandalltimes，tobethepracticeinthisworld；sosaysthefixedlawofthingsforevermore：——anditmustceasetobe_not_thepractice，yourLordship；andcannottoospeedilydosoIthink！——
MuchhasbeendoneinthewayofreformingParliamentinlateyears；butthatofitselfseemstoavailnothing，oralmostless。
ThementhatsitinDowningStreet，governingus，arenotablermensincetheReformBillthanwerethosebeforeit。Preciselythesamekindofmen；obedientformerlytoTorytraditions，obedientnowtoWhigdittoandpopularclamors。Respectablemenofoffice：respectablycommonplaceinfacility，——whilethesituationisbecomingterriblyoriginal！Renderingtheiroutlooks，andours，moreominouseveryday。
Indisputablyenoughthemeaningofallreform-movement，electingandelectioneering，ofpopularagitation，parliamentaryeloquence，andallpoliticaleffortwhatsoever，isthatyoumaygetthetenAblestMeninEnglandputtopresideoveryourtenprincipaldepartmentsofaffairs。TosiftandriddletheNation，sothatyoumightextricateandsiftoutthetruetengoldgrains，orablestmen，andofthesemakeyourGovernorsorPublicOfficers；leavingthedrossandcommonsandyorsiltymaterialsafelyaside，asthethingtobegoverned，nottogovern；
certainlyallballot-boxes，caucuses，Kennington-Commonmeetings，Parliamentarydebatings，RedRepublics，RussianDespotisms，andconstitutionalorunconstitutionalmethodsofsocietyamongmankind，areintendedtoachievethisoneend；andsomeofthem，itwillbeowned，achieveitveryill！——Ifyouhavegotyourgoldgrains，ifthemenyouhavegotareactuallytheablest，thenrejoice；withwhateverastonishment，acceptyourTen，andthankthegods；underthisTenyourdestructionwillatleastbemilderthanunderanother。Butifyouhave_not_gotthem，ifyouareveryfarfromhavinggotthem，thendonotrejoiceatall，then_lament_verymuch；thenadmitthatyoursublimepoliticalconstitutionsandcontrivancesdonotprovethemselvessublime，butridiculousandcontemptible；thatyourworld’swonderofapoliticalmill，theenvyofsurroundingnations，doesnotyieldyourealmeal；yieldsyouonlypowderofmillstonescalledHansardDebatings，andadetestablebrownsubstancenotunlikethegrindingsofdriedhorse-dungorpreparedstreet-mud，whichthoughsoldunderroyalpatent，andmuchrecommendedbythetrade，isquiteunfitforculinarypurposes！——