I find the intrigues of the House immeasurably shallow and undignified; if one always lives among them, one deceives oneself and considers them something wonderful.

When I come here from Frankfort and see them as they really are, I feel like a sober man who has fallen among drunkards.

There is something very demoralising in the air of the Chambers; it makes the best people vain without their knowing it." So quickly has he outgrown his feelings of a year ago: then it was the intrigues of diplomatists that had seemed to him useless and demoralising.

Now it was Parliamentary debates; in the opinion he formed at this time he never wavered.
His distaste for Parliamentary life was probably increased by an event which took place about this time.

As so often before in the course of debate he had a sharp passage of words with Vincke; the latter referred contemptuously to Bismarck's diplomatic achievements.