On the record
The wasps of the House fasten on it; here they perceive is something easy to sting, and safe, for it cannot sting in return.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “The wasps of the House fasten on it; here they perceive is something easy to sting, and safe, for it cannot sting in…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot uses a metaphor to describe how politicians exploit weaknesses in government departments.
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More from Walter Bagehot
That a House of Commons may work well it must perform, as we saw, five functions well: it must elect a Ministry well, legislate well, teach the nation well, express the nation's will well, bring matters to the nation's attention well.
Those who doubt should go out into their kitchens.
He had seen that LEISURE is the great need of early societies, and slaves only can give men leisure.
But as soon as the House met, Lord Thurlow became the greatest.
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