Walter Bagehot: “The light nothings of the drawing-room and the grave things of office…”

On the record

The light nothings of the drawing-room and the grave things of office are as different from one another as two human occupations can be.

Said by

Walter Bagehot

Source

Bagehot contrasts the trivialities of social life with the seriousness of political office.

More from Walter Bagehot

Nothing promotes intellect like intellectual discussion, and nothing promotes intellectual discussion so much as government by discussion.

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

Those who doubt should go out into their kitchens.

Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.

Other voices in this conversation

Walter Bagehot: “The light nothings of the drawing-room and the grave things of office are as different from one another as two human…”