"Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it really seems to mean that half a loaf; is better than a whole loaf"

This quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton is a commentary on the state of modern-day politics. He is recommending that compromise used to imply that it was better to get something than nothing, and now it seems to indicate that it is better to get something than to get whatever. This implies that modern politicians are more willing to settle for less than they might have accomplished, rather than pushing for the best possible outcome. This might be due to an absence of ambition, or a fear of failure, or a desire to keep the status quo. It might also signify an absence of trust between political celebrations, or a lack of determination to take threats. Whatever the factor, Chesterton's quote recommends that contemporary politicians are not as ambitious as they might be, and are opting for less than they could have attained.