Political Quotes

Walter Bagehot: The breed of ancient times was impaired for war by trade and luxury, but the modern breed is not so impaired.

On the record
The breed of ancient times was impaired for war by trade and luxury, but the modern breed is not so impaired.
Said by
Walter Bagehot

Editor's note · Context

Bagehot argues that while trade and luxury weakened ancient warriors, modern society does not suffer from the same impairments.

Share

More from Walter Bagehot

No doubt this momentary gain is bought at a ruinous after-cost.

gutenberg.org

In early society, originality in life was forbidden and repressed by the fixed rule of life.

gutenberg.org

He gave an excellent moral example to his contemporaries, but he is an instance of those whose good dies with them, while their evil lives after them.

gutenberg.org

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

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation