Walter Bagehot: “He is but a messenger--a transmitter; the real decision is in those…”

On the record

He is but a messenger--a transmitter; the real decision is in those who choose him--who chose him because they knew what he would do.

Said by

Walter Bagehot

Source

Bagehot emphasizes that the true decision-making power lies with those who select the executive, not the executive themselves.

More from Walter Bagehot

They are solely concerned with his attractiveness as a candidate; they need not regard his efficiency as a ruler.

He had seen that LEISURE is the great need of early societies, and slaves only can give men leisure.

Savages waste away before modern civilisation; they seem to have held their ground before the ancient.

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

Walter Bagehot: “He is but a messenger--a transmitter; the real decision is in those who choose him--who chose him because they knew what…”