Walter Bagehot: “When history begins to record, she finds most of the races incapable…”

On the record

When history begins to record, she finds most of the races incapable of history, arrested, unprogressive, and pretty much where they are now.

Said by

Walter Bagehot

Source

Bagehot observes that many races are unprogressive and stagnant when history begins to record them.

More from Walter Bagehot

The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.

Thirdly, we see why so few nations have made rapid advance, and how many have become stationary.

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

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

Other voices in this conversation

Walter Bagehot: “When history begins to record, she finds most of the races incapable of history, arrested, unprogressive, and pretty…”