The being without an opinion is so painful to human…

The being without an opinion is so painful to human nature that most people will leap to a hasty opinion rather than undergo it.

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Other Walter Bagehot Quotes

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…
The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. - View Quote Details on The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom…
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. - View Quote Details on A cabinet is a combining committee, — a hyphen which…
Dullness in matters of government is a good sign, and not a bad one - in particular, dullness in parliamentary government is a test of its excellence, an indication of its success. - View Quote Details on Dullness in matters of government is a good sign, and…
The reason why so few good books are written is, that so few people that can write know anything. In general an author has always lived in a room, has read books, has cultivated science, is acquainted with the style and sentiments of the best authors, but he is out of the way of employing his own eyes and ears. He has nothing to hear and nothing to see. His life is a vacuum. - View Quote Details on The reason why so few good books are written is,…
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…
To a great experience one thing is essential — an experiencing nature. - View Quote Details on To a great experience one thing is essential — an…
An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle. - View Quote Details on An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also…
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 gave a chance for it. - View Quote Details on History is strewn with the wrecks of nations which have…
An influential member of parliament has not only to pay much money to become such, and to give time and labour, he has also to sacrifice his mind too - at least all the characteristics part of it that which is original and most his own. - View Quote Details on An influential member of parliament has not only to pay…