The unconscious grace of life MAY be in the middle classes: finely-mannered persons are born everywhere; but it OUGHT to be in the aristocracy: and a man must be born with a hitch in his nerves if he has not some of it.
Bagehot reflects on the expected qualities of the aristocracy compared to the middle classes.
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They have given what I may call a CONFIDENCE IN THE UNIVERSE.
No doubt this momentary gain is bought at a ruinous after-cost.
They are solely concerned with his attractiveness as a candidate; they need not regard his efficiency as a ruler.
The power of free interchange of ideas being wanting, the ideas themselves were barren.
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