The democratic passions gain by fomenting a diffused excitement, and by massing men in concourses; the aristocratic sentiments gain by calm and quiet, and act most on men by themselves, in their families, and when female influence is not absent.
Bagehot contrasts the effects of democratic and aristocratic sentiments on collective versus individual behavior.
Share
More from Walter Bagehot
We have thus a whole group of ancient republics of non-Aryan race, and one which, being more ancient than the classical republics, could not have borrowed from or imitated them.
The Parliament, the laws, the press were human institutions; but the Monarchy was a Divine institution.
They say, We reject your Bill for this once or these twice, or even these thrice: but if you keep on sending it up, at last we won't reject it.
The progress of the military art is the most conspicuous, I was about to say the most SHOWY, fact in human history.
Other voices in this conversation
