The Character of a Trimmer and Other Writings

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To know when to let things alone is a high pitch of good sense. George Savile, Marquess of Halifax was among the greatest statesmen of late seventeenth-century England and was a central figure in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. His pursuit of moderation during a time of fierce political controversy earned him the nickname The Trimmer. Halifax took this intended insult as a badge of honour, arguing that all good things trim between extremes and exist healthily between varieties of excess. His pamphlets, published anonymously during his lifetime, make the case for moderate and pragmatic action rooted in caution and compromise. They stand as an abiding critique of extremism and political tribalism. Halifaxs works on the nature of politics rest upon a practical and extensive experience of government. His detached and often jaded view of life lends a markedly distinctive quality to his thoughts on government, political parties, morality, marriage, and the human condition in general. This edition presents Halifaxs published works, including his political testament The Character of a Trimmer, a remarkable sketch of the character of King Charles II, and various sets of Thoughts and Reflections. An introductory essay sets Halifaxs work within the context of his time and emphasizes the continuing relevance of his thought.