The best security for people's doing their duty is that they should not know anything else to do. Walter Bagehot More Quotes by Walter Bagehot More Quotes From Walter Bagehot Nations touch at their summits. Walter Bagehot summitnations A cabinet is a combining committee, a hyphen which joins, a buckle which fastens, the legislative part of the state to the executive part of the state. In its origin it belongs to the one, in its functions it belongs to the other. Walter Bagehot hyphenscabinetsstates The apparent rulers of the English nation are like the most imposing personages of the a splendid procession; it is by them that the mob are influenced; it is they who the inspectors cheer. The real rulers are secreted in second hand carriages; no one cares for them or asks about them, but they are obeyed implicitly and unconsciously by reason of the splendour of those who eclipsed and preceded them. Walter Bagehot cheerrealhands In my youth I hoped to do great things; now I shall be satisfied to get through without scandal. Walter Bagehot scandalyouthfunny The maxim of science is simply that of common sense-simple cases first; begin with seeing how the main force acts when there is as little as possible to impede it, and when you thoroughly comprehend that, add to it in succession the separate effects of each of the incumbering and interfering agencies. Walter Bagehot agencysimplescience If you have to prove you are worthy of credit, your credit is already gone. Walter Bagehot creditgonemotivational 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. Walter Bagehot judgementfearlong We see but one aspect of our neighbor, as we see but one side of the moon; in either case there is also a dark half, which is unknown to us. We all come down to dinner, but each has a room to himself. Walter Bagehot moonhalfdark Go ahead and do the impossible. It's worth the look on the faces of those who said you couldn't. Walter Bagehot impossiblefaceslooks Progress would not have been the rarity it is if the early food had not been the late poison. Walter Bagehot progresspoisoninspirational Every banker knows that if he has to prove that he is worthy of credit, however good may be his arguments, in fact his credit is gone: but what we have requires no proof. Walter Bagehot bankinggonebankers There seems to be an unalterable contradiction between the human mind and its employments. How can a soul be a merchant? What relation to an immortal being have the price of linseed, the brokerage on hemp? Can an undying creature debit petty expenses and charge for carriage paid? The soul ties its shoes; the mind washes its hands in a basin. All is incongruous. Walter Bagehot shoestieshands An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle. Walter Bagehot ambassadorsdiplomacyagents So long as war is the main business of nations, temporary despotism - despotism during the campaign - is indispensable. Walter Bagehot tyrantsbusinesswar Money is economic power. Walter Bagehot economic-powereconomicmoney Capital must be propelled by self-interest; it cannot be enticed by benevolence. Walter Bagehot benevolenceinterestself A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life. Walter Bagehot prideideasinteresting Women--one half the human race at least--care fifty times more for a marriage than a ministry. Walter Bagehot ministrymarriagerace To a great experience one thing is essential, an experiencing nature. Walter Bagehot great-experiencesexperienceessentials 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. Walter Bagehot fiercehouselooks
