Quote #45
So long as war is the main business of nations, temporary despotism - despotism during the campaign - is indispensable.
More from Walter Bagehot
- Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell.
- The being without an opinion is so painful to human nature that most people will leap to a hasty opinion rather than undergo it.
- Open-mindedness should not be fostered because, as Scripture teaches, Truth is great and will prevail, nor because, as Milton suggests, Tru…
- The best reason why Monarchy is a strong government is, that it is an intelligible government. The mass of mankind understand it, and they …
- No real English gentleman, in his secret soul, was ever sorry for the death of a political economist.
- The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.
- Much has been written about panics and manias, much more than with the most outstretched intellect we are able to follow or conceive; but o…
- The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.