But that very fertility, that very acuteness, which gave a singular charm to his conversation, to his oratory and to his writings, unfitted him for the work of promptly deciding practical questions.

He was slow from very quickness.

For he saw so many arguments for and against every possible course that he was longer in making up his mind than a dull man would have been.

Instead of acquiescing in his first thoughts, he replied on himself, rejoined on himself, and surrejoined on himself.

Those who heard him talk owned that he talked like an angel: but too often, when he had exhausted all that could be said, and came to act, the time for action was over.
Meanwhile the two Secretaries of State were constantly labouring to draw their master in diametrically opposite directions.