Quote

A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.

Walter Bagehot

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Walter Bagehot
Age: 51 †
Born: 1826
Born: February 3
Died: 1877
Died: March 24
Businessperson
Economist
Engineer
Journalist
Political Scientist
Politician
Sociologist
Langport
Somerset
Despotism
Bureaucracy
Assuming
Democratic
Democracy
Freedom
Theocracy
Government
Assumes
Like
Correctness

More quotes by Walter Bagehot

Image
One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea. It...makes you think that after all, your favorite notions may be wrong, your firmest beliefs ill-founded....Naturally, therefore, common men hate a new idea, and are disposed more or less to ill-treat the original man who brings it.
Walter Bagehot
Image
But of all nations in the world the English are perhaps the least a nation of pure philosophers.
Walter Bagehot
Image
In early times every sort of advantage tends to become a military advantage such is the best way, then, to keep it alive. But the Jewish advantage never did so beginning in religion, contrary to a thousand analogies, it remained religious.
Walter Bagehot
Image
The most melancholy of human reflections, perhaps, is that, on the whole, it is a question whether the benevolence of mankind does most good or harm.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Progress would not have been the rarity it is if the early food had not been the late poison.
Walter Bagehot
Image
A highly developed moral nature joined to an undeveloped intellectual nature, an undeveloped artistic nature, and a very limited religious nature, is of necessity repulsive. It represents a bit of human nature a good bit, of course, but a bit only in disproportionate, unnatural and revolting prominence.
Walter Bagehot
Image
A slight daily unconscious luxury is hardly ever wanting to the dwellers in civilization like the gentle air of a genial climate, it is a perpetual minute enjoyment.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Men who do not make advances to women are apt to become victims to women who make advances to them.
Walter Bagehot
Image
One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.
Walter Bagehot
Image
The best reason why Monarchy is a strong government is, that it is an intelligible government. The mass of mankind understand it, and they hardly anywhere in the world understand any other.
Walter Bagehot
Image
The great pleasure of life is doing for pleasure things I do not like to do.
Walter Bagehot
Image
A princely marriage is the brilliant edition of a universal fact, and, as such, it rivets mankind.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Great and terrible systems of divinity and philosophy lie round about us, which, if true, might drive a wise man mad.
Walter Bagehot
Image
We see but one aspect of our neighbor, as we see but one side of the moon in either case there is also a dark half, which is unknown to us. We all come down to dinner, but each has a room to himself.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Money is economic power.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Adventure is the life of commerce, but caution is the life of banking.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Dullness in matters of government is a good sign, and not a bad one - in particular, dullness in parliamentary government is a test of its excellence, an indication of its success.
Walter Bagehot
Image
No real English gentleman, in his secret soul, was ever sorry for the death of a political economist.
Walter Bagehot
Image
Civilized ages inherit the human nature which was victorious in barbarous ages, and that nature is, in many respects, not at all suited to civilized circumstances.
Walter Bagehot
Image
The less money lying idle the greater is the dividend.
Walter Bagehot