Most men inherited a nature too eager and too restless to be quiet and find out things; and even worse--with their idle clamour they 'disturbed the brooding hen,' they would not let those be quiet who wished to be so, and out of whose calm thought much good might have come forth.
Walter Bagehot: “Most men inherited a nature too eager and too restless to be quiet and find out things; and even worse--with their idle…”
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Walter Bagehot
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gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
Bagehot critiques the tendency of people to disrupt those who seek quiet reflection necessary for innovation.
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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.
These anomalies, in a hundred instances, mark the old boundaries of a constitutional struggle.
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.





