Walter Bagehot: “So in communities where the masses are ignorant but respectful, if you once permit the ignorant class to begin to rule…”

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.

At last it strikes you that they grew up, house by house, on the devious tracks of the old green lanes; and if you follow on to the existing fields, you may often find the change half complete.

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.

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.