To receive a particular conclusion upon the ipse dixit, upon the accepted authority of an admired instructor, is obviously not so vivifying to the argumentative and questioning intellect as to argue out conclusions for yourself.
Bagehot emphasizes the importance of independent reasoning over accepting conclusions from authority figures.
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If the above reasoning be sound, compulsory constituencies are necessary, voluntary constituencies destructive; the optional transferability of votes is not a salutary aid, but a ruinous innovation.
They say, We reject your Bill for this once or these twice, or even these thrice: but if you keep on sending it up, at last we won't reject it.
It is absurd to choose by contested party election an impartial chooser of Ministers.
Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.
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