On the record
An Opposition, on coming into power, is often like a speculative merchant whose bills become due.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “An Opposition, on coming into power, is often like a speculative merchant whose bills become due.”
Editor's note · Context
This quote compares the transition of an Opposition to power with the challenges faced by speculative merchants.
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More from Walter Bagehot
These anomalies, in a hundred instances, mark the old boundaries of a constitutional struggle.
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.
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.
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.
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