It was not Addison who began the essay-writing of Queen Anne's time, but Steele; it was the vigorous forward man who struck out the rough notion, though it was the wise and meditative man who improved upon it and elaborated it, and whom posterity reads.
Bagehot contrasts the contributions of Steele and Addison to the essay-writing tradition of their time.
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The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
And again, in political matters, how quickly a leading statesman can change the tone of the community!
Nothing promotes intellect like intellectual discussion, and nothing promotes intellectual discussion so much as government by discussion.
They have given what I may call a CONFIDENCE IN THE UNIVERSE.
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