The Character of a Trimmer and Other Writings

'To know when to let things alone is a high pitch of good sense.'

The Marquis of Halifax was among the greatest statesmen of late seventeenth century England and was a central figure in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. His pursuit of moderation during a time of fierce political controversy earned him the nickname of 'The Trimmer'. Intended as an insult, Halifax took the title as a badge of honour, arguing that all good things trim between extremes and exist healthily between excesses of one kind or another. His pamphlets, published anonymously during his lifetime, make the case for moderate and pragmatic action rooted in caution and compromise. They stand as an abiding critique of extremism and political tribalism. Halifax's works on the nature of politics have the rare characteristic of being written by a practitioner, rather than by a mere theorist, and they rest accordingly upon a practical and extensive experience of government. Informed by an increasing sense of disillusionment, Halifax's detached and often jaded view of life lends a markedly distinctive quality to his thoughts on government, political parties, morality, marriage, and the human condition in general.

This edition presents all of Halifax's published works, including his political testament The Character of a Trimmer, his remarkable sketch of the character of King Charles II, and various sets of Thoughts and Reflections, the style and content of which led the historian Hugh Trevor-Roper to call him 'the English La Rochefoucauld'. An introductory essay sets Halifax's work within the context of his time and emphasizes the continuing relevance of his thought.

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George Savile, Marquis of Halifax

Brian R. Clack is Professor of Philosophy at the University of San Diego. He is the author of two books on the philosophy of Wittgenstein — Wittgenstein, Frazer and Religion (1999) and An Introduction to Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion (1999) — and of Love, Drugs, Art, Religion: The Pains and Consolations of Existence (2014), and co-author of The Philosophy of Religion: A Critical Introduction (third edition, 2019). He has edited Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France for the Broadview Editions series (2022).

William Gibson is Professor Emeritus at Oxford Brookes University. He has written widely on religion and politics in the period 1660-1800, including James II and the Trial of the Seven Bishops (2009) and Samuel Wesley and the Crisis of Tory Piety, 1685-1720 (2021). He is editor of the Journal of Religious History, Literature and Culture and is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

IntroductionNote on the TextSelect BibliographyA Chronology of the Marquis of HalifaxThe Character of a TrimmerA Character of King Charles IIThe Lady's New Year's Gift: Or, Advice to a DaughterA Letter to a DissenterThe Anatomy of an EquivalentMaxims of the Great AlmansorA Rough Draft of a New Model at SeaSome Cautions OfferedThe Government of the WorldPolitical Thoughts and ReflectionsMoral Thoughts and ReflectionsMiscellaneous Thoughts and ReflectionsSelections from the Miscellanys and Miscellaneous MaximsAppendix: Notable Historical Judgments on HalifaxExplanatory Notes