The only honest answer is that an impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history; conviction results from whatever offense or offenses two-thirds of the other body considers to be sufficiently serious to require removal of the accused from office.

Summary

This quote explains the subjective nature of the impeachment process. It suggests that there is no fixed definition of an impeachable offense; rather, what is considered as such can vary depending on the majority view of the House of Representatives at a specific point in time. Likewise, conviction and removal from office require a collective judgment from two-thirds of the other body, indicating that seriousness of the offense is a subjective determination. Thus, the quote emphasizes that the understanding of impeachable offenses and the decision to impeach are both influenced by the prevailing political and historical context.