Walter Bagehot: “In passing from Bacon to Addison, from Shakespeare to Pope, we seem to pass into a new world.”

I cannot, therefore, join in the full cry against anomalies; in my judgment it may quickly overrun the scent, and so miss what we should be glad to find.

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.

But it is natural also that persons used to analyse political institutions should look at these anomalies with a little tenderness and a little interest.

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.