Walter Bagehot: “The strongest light on the great causes which have formed and are forming nations is thrown by the smaller causes which…”

I own that I do not entirely sympathise with the horror of these anomalies which haunts some of our best critics.

But it is natural also that persons used to analyse political institutions should look at these anomalies with a little tenderness and a little interest.

Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner.

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.