I am more or less happy when being praised, not very uncomfortable when being abused, but I have moments of uneasiness when being explained.
- Balfour, Quoted Kenneth Rose, Daily Telegraph, 1960.

Additional Information on
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848-1930)
Conservative Prime Minister 1902-1905

Balfour was the nephew of Lord Salisbury. He had wanted to be a philosopher, but was reminded of his duty to society by his mother, and so entered Parliament in 1874 as a Conservative or 'Unionist' as he termed it. Balfour first represented Hertford (1874-1885) and then Manchester (1886-1905). In 1879 he became Salisbury's Private Secretary and then when Disraeli assumed the premiership he was made Foreign Secretary. In 1878 he accompanied them to the Congress of Berlin.

Whilst in the opposition to Gladstone's second ministry, Balfour became an influential member of the Fourth Party, led by Randolph Churchill. This managed to bring down the government in 1885. In Salisbury's first ministry (1885) Balfour was made Secretary for Scotland, and then two years later was made Secretary for Ireland - a very difficult position. He surprised his peers by handling the situation very well, and stayed in Ireland until 1891 when he was made First Lord of the Treasury and Leader in the House of Commons, and so was sent back to England. This position lasted until 1892 when Salisbury's ministry fell, but in Salisbury's third ministry he held the same posts, until 1902 when Salisbury retired and he became Prime Minister himself.

Balfour's main concerns were to improve education for the people, and the defence of the empire. He immediately passed the Education Act and tried to prepare British defence for any war that may happen, but dissensions within his party led to its ultimate downfall. In 1905 he resigned and, in the election, his government fell to a crushing defeat by the Liberals. In 1905 he joined Asquith's coalition as First Lord of the Admiralty, and in 1916 was transferred to the foreign office in David Lloyd George's ministry. In this position he was noted for his role in devising the Balfour Declaration - providing a home for the Jewish in the Palestine. In 1917 Balfour headed the British War mission, and in 1919 was a key member of the peace conference who drew up the Treaty of Versailles.

From 1919-1922 Balfour was made President of the Council, representing Britain at the first association of the League of Nations, and at the Washington Conference. In 1922 he was made Earl Balfour. He held this same position from 1925-1929 in Baldwin's second administration, and retired in 1929. He died in 1930.

His philosophical writings must not be dismissed as they are highly regarded by other professional philosophers. They include: A Defence of Philosophical Doubt, The Foundations of Belief, Theism and Humanism.

QUOTATIONS

He played politics in the same spirit as he played golf.
- Robert Cecil, Life in Edwardian England, 1969.

The House of Lords is not the watchdog of the constitution, it is Mr Balfour's poodle. It fetches and carries for him, it barks for him, it bites anyone he sets it on to.
- Lloyd George, Speech in the House of Commons, 1908.

A powerful, graceful cat, walking delicately and unsoiled across a rather muddy street.
- Winston Churchill, Great Contemporaries, 1937.

You put a pistol to my head - yes
- Himself to Lloyd George, on being offered the Foreign Secretaryship.

We are none of us infallible - not even the youngest of us.
- Himself.