On the record
In a nearly balanced argument the king must always have the better, and in politics many most important arguments are nearly balanced.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “In a nearly balanced argument the king must always have the better, and in politics many most important arguments are…”
Editor's note · Context
This statement reflects on the inherent advantages a king has in political debates, especially in closely contested arguments.
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More from Walter Bagehot
The power of free interchange of ideas being wanting, the ideas themselves were barren.
But, above all things, they were frightened of 'the world;' the spectacle of nature filled them with awe and dread.
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.
Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.
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