If it is fit to make laws for a country, its majority ought to represent the general average intelligence of that country; its various members ought to represent the various special interests, special opinions, special prejudices, to be found in that community.
Bagehot argues that a legislature should reflect the general intelligence and diverse interests of the society it represents.
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More from Walter Bagehot
If those persons be people of different temperaments, different ideas, and different educations, you have an almost infallible security that nothing, or almost nothing, will be done with excessive rapidity.
The moderate people of every party must combine to support the Government which, on the whole, suits every party best.
The nation then selected the English policy, but the Crown chose the English Ministers.
All savage religions are full of superstitions founded on luck.
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