It is a part of the British constitution that black is white or white black, when official purposes require that they should be so; and indeed it is a necessary part of the constitution, for without it no government would be for us practicable. It would hardly be possible that our public work should be carried on, in all its details, without any fault, with perfect freedom from blundering. One would say that it is anything but possible. Faults will occur; but as no faults may be forgiven, no faults must be admitted. A minister who would once own that either he or any of us had done wrong would soon go to the wall. Faults there must be, but they must be made to look like fresh virtues.
- Anthony Trollope, The Three Clerks
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