From Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham

I'm inclined to feel very kindly to everyone who feels kindly towards her. You must enjoy yourselves in Upper Egypt and when you come back to Cairo you must let us know. (APPLEBY: I'm expecting to learn a good deal from my journey.) You may learn a good deal that will surprise you. You may learn that there are races in the world that seem born to rule and races that seem born to serve; that democracy is not a panacea for all the ills of mankind, but merely one system of government like another, which hasn't had a long enough trial to make it certain whether it is desirable or not; that freedom generally means the power of the strong to oppress the weak, and that the wise statesman gives men the illusion of it but not the substance--in short, a number of things which must be very disturbing to the equilibrium of a Radical Member of Parliament. (ANNE: On the other hand, you'll see our beautiful Nile and the temples.) And perhaps they'll suggest to you that however old the world is it's ever young, and that when all's said and done the most permanent on the face of the earth is what seems the most transitory--the ideal.

Sir Arthur Little Monologue from Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts

Rehearse Sir Arthur Little's monologue