Walter Bagehot: “Bred in war, and nursed in war, it could not revolt from the things of war, and one of the principal of these is human…”

Just so the lines of our Constitution were framed in old eras of sparse population, few wants, and simple habits; and we adhere in seeming to their shape, though civilisation has come with its dangers, complications, and enjoyments.

I cannot, therefore, join in the full cry against anomalies; in my judgment it may quickly overrun the scent, and so miss what we should be glad to find.

I own that I do not entirely sympathise with the horror of these anomalies which haunts some of our best critics.

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.