On the record
They look as if they had paused when there was no reason for pausing--when a mere observer from without would say they were likely not to pause.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “They look as if they had paused when there was no reason for pausing--when a mere observer from without would say they…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot suggests that these civilizations appear to have halted their progress without justification.
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More from Walter Bagehot
These anomalies, in a hundred instances, mark the old boundaries of a constitutional struggle.
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.
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.
I own that I do not entirely sympathise with the horror of these anomalies which haunts some of our best critics.
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