Walter Bagehot Quotes

In every particular state of the world, those nations which are strongest tend to prevail over the others; and in certain marked peculiarities the strongest tend to be the best.

Honor sinks where commerce long prevails.

Dullness in matters of government is a good sign, and not a bad one - in particular, dullness in parliamentary government is a test of its excellence, an indication of its success.

Conquest is the missionary of valor, and the hard impact of military virtues beats meanness out of the world.

An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle.

A severe though not unfriendly critic of our institutions said that the cure for admiring the House of Lords was to go and look at it.

A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe, and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself.

A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.

A man's mother is his misfortune, but his wife is his fault.

A constitutional statesman is in general a man of common opinions and uncommon abilities.

Writers like teeth are divided into incisors and grinders.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

The cure for admiring the House of Lords is to go and look at it.

An influential member of parliament has not only to pay much money to become such, and to give time and labour, he has also to sacrifice his mind too - at least all the characteristics part of it that which is original and most his own.

An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.

All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape.

The best history is but like the art of Rembrandt; it casts a vivid light on certain selected causes, on those which were best and greatest; it leaves all the rest in shadow and unseen.

So long as there are earnest believers in the world, they will always wish to punish opinions, even if their judgment tells them it is unwise and their conscience that it is wrong.

Public opinion is a permeating influence, and it exacts obedience to itself; it requires us to drink other men's thoughts, to speak other men's words, to follow other men's habits.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.

A slight daily unconscious luxury is hardly ever wanting to the dwellers in civilization; like the gentle air of a genial climate, it is a perpetual minute enjoyment.

It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations.

An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.

A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life.

A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.