C.N. Douglas, comp. Forty Thousand Quotations: Prose and Poetical. 1917.
Neutrality
The heart is never neutral.
Neutral men are the devil’s allies.
The cold neutrality of an impartial judge.
Neutrality, as a lasting principle, is an evidence of weakness.
A wise neuter joins with neither, but uses both, as his honest interest leads him.
Neutrality is dangerous, whereby thou becomest a necessary prey to the conqueror.
It is well to be independent, also well not to be neutral.
As for the ass’s behavior in such nice circumstances, whether he would starve sooner than violate his neutrality to the two bundles of hay, I shall not presume to determine.
Neutrality is no favorite with Providence, for we are so formed that it is scarcely possible for us to stand neuter in our hearts, although we may deem it prudent to appear so in our actions.
There is in some men a dispassionate neutrality of mind, which, though it generally passes for good temper, can neither gratify nor warm us: it must indeed be granted that these men can only negatively offend; but then it should also be remembered that they cannot positively please.
Neutrality in things good or evil is both odious and prejudicial; but in matters of an indifferent nature is safe and commendable. Herein taking of parts maketh sides, and breaketh unity. In an unjust cause of separation, he that favoreth both parts may perhaps have least love of either side, but hath most charity in himself.