On the record
If you send a housemaid and a philosopher to a foreign country of which neither knows the language, the chances are that the housemaid will catch it before the philosopher.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “If you send a housemaid and a philosopher to a foreign country of which neither knows the language, the chances are that…”
Editor's note · Context
This quote humorously illustrates the idea that practical experience can sometimes surpass theoretical knowledge in unfamiliar situations.
Share
More from Walter Bagehot
The casual line was traced according to the strength of deceased combatants; succeeding generations fought elsewhere; and the hesitating line of a half-drawn battle was left to stand for a perpetual limit.
The lessons are good where its primitive assumptions hold, but may be false where those assumptions fail.
Political philosophy is still more imperfect; it has been framed from observations taken upon regular specimens of politics and States; as to these its teaching is most valuable.
It is natural that those who by special and admirable culture have come to look at all things upon the artistic side, should start back from these queer peculiarities.
Other voices in this conversation
