As for vanity, I never saw a man so entirely devoid of it.

His modesty amounted to a defect, in that he always underestimated his personal influence.

A man less single-minded, vainer, more ambitious of success, might with the same gifts have achieved more for Ireland in thrusting towards a personal triumph.

A man with more love for the homage of crowds might have kept himself in closer touch with the mass of his following.
The way of life to which he was committed was in its essence distasteful to him.

I do not believe that history shows an example of a statesman who served his country more absolutely from a sense of duty.
All this might be admitted without conceding greatness to him.