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Most men mostly imitate what they see, and catch the tone of what they hear, and so a settled type--a persistent character--is formed.
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Walter Bagehot
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gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “Most men mostly imitate what they see, and catch the tone of what they hear, and so a settled type--a persistent…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot observes that human behavior is largely influenced by imitation and social environment, leading to persistent character types.
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More from Walter Bagehot
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.
These anomalies, in a hundred instances, mark the old boundaries of a constitutional struggle.
Subject to this saving remark, however, I not only admit, but maintain, that our Constitution is full of curious oddities, which are impeding and mischievous, and ought to be struck out.
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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