History is strewn with the wrecks of nations which have gained a little progressiveness at the cost of a great deal of hard manliness, and have thus prepared themselves for destruction as soon as the movements of the world have a chance for it. Walter Bagehot More Quotes by Walter Bagehot More Quotes From Walter Bagehot The Ethiop gods have Ethiop lips, Bronze cheeks, and woolly hair; The Grecian gods are like the Greeks, As keen-eyed, cold and fair. Walter Bagehot lips greek hair The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be. Walter Bagehot belief mistake trying The most essential mental quality for a free people, whose liberty is to be progressive, permanent and on a large scale, is much stupidity. Walter Bagehot cynical stupidity people 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. Walter Bagehot political government excellence Most men of business think "Anyhow this system will probably last my time. It has gone on a long time, and is likely to go on still. Walter Bagehot men long thinking 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. Walter Bagehot sacrifice political giving The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the known men against whom much is to be said, and agreed on some unknown man against whom there is nothing known, and therefore nothing to be alleged. Walter Bagehot voting cutting men Whatever expenditure is sanctioned - even when it is sanctioned against the ministry's wish - the ministry must find the money. Accordingly, they have the strongest motive to oppose extra outlay. The ministry is (so to speak) the breadwinner of the political family, and has to meet the cost of philanthropy and glory; just as the head of a family has to pay for the charities of his wife and the toilette of his daughters. Walter Bagehot wife daughter political I'm not the kind of writer who's able to block out the world around me. I'm mindful of our own haves and have-nots, how our culture often blames and punishes the have-nots. I worry about our precarious economic and political climate. Walter Bagehot block political worry A political country is like an American forest; you have only to cut down the old trees, and immediately new trees come up to replace them. Walter Bagehot cutting tree country Throughout the greater part of his life George III was a kind of 'consecrated obstruction'. Walter Bagehot obstruction greater kind 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. Walter Bagehot public-opinion influence men The essence of Toryism is enjoyment?but as far as communicating and establishing your creed are concernedtrya little pleasure. The way to keep up old customs is, to enjoy old customs; the way to be satisfied with the present state of things is, to enjoy that state of things. Walter Bagehot essence littles way Adventure is the life of commerce, but caution is the life of banking. Walter Bagehot caution banking adventure Nothing is more unpleasant that a virtuous person with a mean mind. Walter Bagehot Strong beliefs win strong men, and then make them stronger. Walter Bagehot The reason that there are so few good books written is that so few people who write know anything. Walter Bagehot Honor sinks where commerce long prevails. Walter Bagehot where commerce honor long Woman absent is woman dead. Walter Bagehot dead woman absent
