Savages, again, do not improve; they hardly seem to have the basis on which to build, much less the material to put up anything worth having.
Walter Bagehot: “Savages, again, do not improve; they hardly seem to have the basis on which to build, much less the material to put up…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot argues that primitive societies do not show signs of improvement, lacking the foundations for development.
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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.
At last it strikes you that they grew up, house by house, on the devious tracks of the old green lanes; and if you follow on to the existing fields, you may often find the change half complete.
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.
Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner.





