A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of…

A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.

Unsourced

Other Walter Bagehot Quotes

The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be. - View Quote Details on The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than…
I started out by believing God for a newer car than the one I was driving. I started out believing God for a nicer apartment than I had. Then I moved up. - View Quote Details on I started out by believing God for a newer car…
Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell. - View Quote Details on Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very…
Men who do not make advances to women are apt to become victims to women who make advances to them. - View Quote Details on Men who do not make advances to women are apt…
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. - View Quote Details on A political country is like an American forest; you have…
Free government is self-government. A government of the people by the people. The best government of this sort is that which the people think best. - View Quote Details on Free government is self-government. A government of the people by…
Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders. - View Quote Details on Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders.
Open-mindedness should not be fostered because, as Scripture teaches, Truth is great and will prevail, nor because, as Milton suggests, Truth will always win in a free and open encounter. It should be fostered for its own sake. - View Quote Details on Open-mindedness should not be fostered because, as Scripture teaches, Truth…
In excited states of the public mind they have scarcely a discretion at all; the tendency of the public perturbation determines what shall and what shall not be dealt with. But, upon the other hand, in quiet times statesmen have great power; when there is no fire lighted, they can settle what fire shall be lit. And as the new suffrage is happily to be tried in a quiet time, the responsibility of our statesmen is great because their power is great too. - View Quote Details on In excited states of the public mind they have scarcely…
A slight daily unconscious luxury is hardly ever wanting to the dwellers in civilization; like the gentle air of a genial climate, it is a perpetual minute enjoyment. - View Quote Details on A slight daily unconscious luxury is hardly ever wanting to…