Walter Bagehot: “The House of Lords, being an hereditary chamber, cannot be of more than common ability.”

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

The United States could not have become monarchical, even if the Constitutional Convention had decreed it, even if the component States had ratified it.

I do not think I put this too high when I say that a most important if not the most important object of early legislation was the enforcement of LUCKY rites.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.