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Walter Bagehot on Government

1826–1877 England

← All quotes by Walter Bagehot

6 quotes

A constitutional sovereign must in the common course of government be a man of but common ability.

The English Constitution (1894)

Cabinet governments educate the nation; the presidential does not educate it, and may corrupt it.

The English Constitution (1894)

Nobody will understand parliamentary government who fancies it an easy thing, a natural thing, a thing not needing explanation.

The English Constitution (1894)

The masses of Englishmen are not fit for an elective government.

The English Constitution (1894)

Free government is self-government. A government of the people by the people. The best government of this sort is that which the people think best.

The English Constitution (1894)

[W]hatever is unnecessary in government is pernicious.

The English Constitution (1894)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Walter Bagehot (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.