But whatever the distinguished few may have been, it is the substance and mass of the body which constitutes its character, and must finally determine its direction.
Editor's note · Context
Burke argues that the overall character and direction of any collective body are determined by the general mass of its members, not just a few prominent individuals.
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But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.
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Who could doubt but that, at any expense to the state, of which they understood nothing, they must pursue their private interests, which they understood but too well?
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