This at least is one of the platitudes of historians.

a passage which, after his wont, he spoils by platitudes about the precisian Brutus, who certainly did not give Rome liberty.

No course of reading laid down by one person ever suits another, and the published "lists of best books," with their solemn platitudes in the way of advice, are generally interesting only in their reflection of the writer's personality.

It is sad for a respectable functionary, who would ask for nothing better than to be servile or arrogant according to circumstances, to be in danger of lavishing his platitudes on a person who is perhaps going to rot forever in exile, and who is nothing more than a rascal, or to risk being insolent to a vagabond of a postscript who is capable of coming back a conqueror in six months' time, and of becoming the Government in his turn.

"Sometimes one feels one wants a guide, but all one gets is a ridiculous platitude from her old-fashioned code.

Peter was accustomed to write polite platitudes to his parent, and had presumably not intended that his letter to the canon should be actually read by Sir Timothy, when he had asked that the contents of it should be broken to him.

Rhetoric of this sort, "des vers d'or sur une éclume d'airain" and such sententious platitudes as this (speaking of the realists), "Les épidémies de cette nature passent, et le génie demeure.

Popular government is no more free from catchwords and platitudes than any other political, religious, or social cause which interests a great many people, and is the subject of much discussion.

" "It may be a platitude, but I am beginning to discover that what are called platitudes by the young are biting truths to the old," said Lady Mary.

For Washington understood that peace does not consist in talking platitudes at conferences, but in organizing a sovereignty strong enough to coerce its subjects.

There's a punning platitude for you.

She has such playful, girlish manners, and an irritating way of giving vent to the most utter platitudes with the air of having just discovered a new truth.