The best instance is Lord Chatham, the most dictatorial and imperious of English statesmen, and almost the first English statesman who was borne into power against the wishes of the king and against the wishes of the nobility--the first popular Minister.
Bagehot uses Lord Chatham as an example of a powerful statesman who rose to prominence against traditional expectations.
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The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
Now it is not conceivable that a race of beings with valuable instincts supporting their existence and supplying their wants would need these simple tools.
And again, in political matters, how quickly a leading statesman can change the tone of the community!
Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.
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