The business of banking ought to be simple. If it is hard it is wrong. The only securities which a banker, using money that he may be asked at short notice to repay, ought to touch, are those which are easily saleable and easily intelligible. Walter Bagehot More Quotes by Walter Bagehot More Quotes From Walter Bagehot 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 wrecks littles men Civilized ages inherit the human nature which was victorious in barbarous ages, and that nature is, in many respects, not at all suited to civilized circumstances. Walter Bagehot human-nature society age The characteristic merit of the English constitutions is, that its dignified parts are very complicated and somewhat imposing, very old and rather venerable, while its efficient part, at least when in great and critical action, is decidedly simple and modern. Walter Bagehot merit simple action The cardinal maxim is, that any aid to a present bad Bank is the surest mode of preventing the establishment of a future good Bank. Walter Bagehot aids investing cardinals A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe, and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself. Walter Bagehot teaching fear teacher Life is a school of probability. Walter Bagehot philosophy life art Writers like teeth are divided into incisors and grinders. Walter Bagehot grinder teeth writing 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. Walter Bagehot light history art Business is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests the whole mind, the aggregate nature of man more continuously, and more deeply. But it does not look as if it did. Walter Bagehot business mind men 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. Walter Bagehot being-the-best states world The real essence of work is concentrated energy. Walter Bagehot energy real essence Not only does a bureaucracy tend to under-government in point of quality; it tends to over-government in point of quantity. Walter Bagehot quality government doe The mystic reverence, the religious allegiance, which are essential to a true monarchy, are imaginative sentiments that no legislature can manufacture in any people. Walter Bagehot religious people religion The cure for admiring the House of Lords is to go and look at it. Walter Bagehot political house looks A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people. Walter Bagehot politics political people Men who do not make advances to women are apt to become victims to women who make advances to them. Walter Bagehot women victim men The less money lying idle the greater is the dividend. Walter Bagehot idle greater lying The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything. Walter Bagehot writing book people Nine tenths of modern science is in this respect the same: it is the produce of men whom their contemporaries thought dreamers - who were laughed at for caring for what did not concern them - who, as the proverb went, 'walked into a well from looking at the stars' - who were believed to be useless, if anyone could be such. Walter Bagehot stars caring life Nations touch at their summits. Walter Bagehot summit nations
