Memory Hold-The-Door by John Buchan — Read

I have used the word politics, but at this stage I was no politician, being interested only to a small degree in theories, and not at all in parties. In that complacent old world before the South African War youth did not easily feel the impact of national problems. Generally speaking, I was of a conservative cast of mind, very sensible of the past, approving renovation but not innovation. Lord Falkland's classic confession of faith might have been mine -- "When it is not necessary to change it is necessary not to change."

High-flying political schemes seemed to me either dangerous or slightly ridiculous -- which was Dr. Johnson's view. "So, sir," said Boswell, "you laugh at schemes of political improvement? " "Why, sir, most schemes of political improvement are very laughable things. " In those days my social conscience was scarcely awake.