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The numerical majority--whether by custom or by choice, is immaterial--is ready, is eager to delegate its power of choosing its ruler to a certain select minority.
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Walter Bagehot
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gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “The numerical majority--whether by custom or by choice, is immaterial--is ready, is eager to delegate its power of…”
Editor's note · Context
Bagehot discusses how the majority often willingly delegates its power to a select minority to choose its rulers.
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More from Walter Bagehot
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.
The lessons are good where its primitive assumptions hold, but may be false where those assumptions fail.
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.
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.
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