Walter Bagehot: “But neglecting such small and dubious exceptions, the Cabinet which was chosen by one House of Commons has an appeal to…”

I cannot, therefore, join in the full cry against anomalies; in my judgment it may quickly overrun the scent, and so miss what we should be glad to find.

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.

It is natural that those who by special and admirable culture have come to look at all things upon the artistic side, should start back from these queer peculiarities.

The lessons are good where its primitive assumptions hold, but may be false where those assumptions fail.