Walter Bagehot: “Politics would offer a prize too dazzling for mankind; clever base…”

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Politics would offer a prize too dazzling for mankind; clever base people would strive for it, and stupid base people would envy it.

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Walter Bagehot

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Bagehot warns that politics can become a dangerous allure for both clever and foolish individuals.

More from Walter Bagehot

There is no ELASTIC element, everything is rigid, specified, dated.

The work would be done so well that we should not want any one to look over or revise it.

All savage religions are full of superstitions founded on luck.

But all men heed great results, and a change of Government is a great result.

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Walter Bagehot: “Politics would offer a prize too dazzling for mankind; clever base people would strive for it, and stupid base people…”