On the record
I believe it would be despotic if it were clever, or rather if its representatives were so, but it has a fixed device to make them stupid.
Said by
Walter Bagehot
Source
gutenberg.orgWalter Bagehot: “I believe it would be despotic if it were clever, or rather if its representatives were so, but it has a fixed device to…”
Editor's note · Context
Here, Bagehot argues that the lack of intelligence among representatives prevents the landed interest from becoming despotic.
Share
More from Walter Bagehot
Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner.
At last it strikes you that they grew up, house by house, on the devious tracks of the old green lanes; and if you follow on to the existing fields, you may often find the change half complete.
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.
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.
Other voices in this conversation
