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About this quote

What does it mean?
England has a long continuous history of parliamentary governance.
In plain terms
England is the origin and home of representative government.
What can you take from it?
Historical continuity strengthens political institutions.

Where it applies

  • civic education
  • patriotic speeches
  • historical writing

Putting it to work

  • institutional reform
  • civic duty
  • history study

Questions to consider

  • What makes an institution strong?
  • Does history matter today?

Another view

Other nations claim similar ancient parliamentary roots.

More from John Bright

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  2. The right honorable gentleman is the first of the new party who has retired into his political cave of Adullam and he has called about him everyone that was in…

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  3. The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings. There is no one, as when the first-born were slain of old…

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