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51 Insightful Quotes By Walter Bagehot That You Should Not Miss

Famous As: Journalist, businessman, and essayist, who wrote extensively about government, economics, literature and race.
Born On: February 3, 1826
Died On: March 24, 1877
Born In: Langport, Somerset, England
Died At Age: 51

Walter Bagehot was an English businessman, journalist and essayist noted for his extensive writings on literature, governance and economics. Bagehot studied mathematics at University College London and then studied philosophy at the post graduate level, before joining ‘Stuckey’s Banking Company’. However, it was as a journalist, writer and essayist that he really made his name. In 1860, he went on to become the editor-in-chief of the celebrated newspaper ‘The Economist’. He had also been the founder of ‘National Review’ and authored the book ‘The English Constitution’ that explored the parliamentary system as well as the monarchy in the United Kingdom. Bagehot was a prolific writer and one of the most respected journalists of his time, and wrote books like ‘Lombard Street: A Description of the Money Market’ and ‘Physics and Politics’ among others. We bring to you a compilation of quotes and sayings by the distinguished author which have been curated from his writings, books, essays, work, thoughts and life. Let us browse through simple, sensible and inspirational quotes and thoughts by Walter Bagehot that hold a world of wisdom.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Walter Bagehot
The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.

The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.

Walter Bagehot
An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle.

An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle.

Walter Bagehot
An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.

An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.

Walter Bagehot
No great work has ever been produced except after a long interval of still and musing meditation.

No great work has ever been produced except after a long interval of still and musing meditation.

Walter Bagehot
A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life.

A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life.

Walter Bagehot
Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.

Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.

Walter Bagehot
A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Walter Bagehot
Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell.

Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell.

Walter Bagehot
A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.

A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.

Walter Bagehot
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.

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
No real English gentleman, in his secret soul, was ever sorry for the death of a political economist.

No real English gentleman, in his secret soul, was ever sorry for the death of a political economist.

Walter Bagehot

An influential member of parliament has not only to pay much money to become such, and to give time and labour, he has also to sacrifice his mind too - at least all the characteristics part of it that which is original and most his own.

Walter Bagehot
All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape.

All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape.

Walter Bagehot
An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.

An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.

Walter Bagehot
The cure for admiring the House of Lords is to go and look at it.

The cure for admiring the House of Lords is to go and look at it.

Walter Bagehot
The being without an opinion is so painful to human nature that most people will leap to a hasty opinion rather than undergo it.

The being without an opinion is so painful to human nature that most people will leap to a hasty opinion rather than undergo it.

Walter Bagehot
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.

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
One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.

Walter Bagehot
Conquest is the missionary of valor, and the hard impact of military virtues beats meanness out of the world.

Conquest is the missionary of valor, and the hard impact of military virtues beats meanness out of the world.

Walter Bagehot
It is often said that men are ruled by their imaginations; but it would be truer to say they are governed by the weakness of their imaginations.

It is often said that men are ruled by their imaginations; but it would be truer to say they are governed by the weakness of their imaginations.

Walter Bagehot
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.

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
A severe though not unfriendly critic of our institutions said that the cure for admiring the House of Lords was to go and look at it.

A severe though not unfriendly critic of our institutions said that the cure for admiring the House of Lords was to go and look at it.

Walter Bagehot
A constitutional statesman is in general a man of common opinions and uncommon abilities.

A constitutional statesman is in general a man of common opinions and uncommon abilities.

Walter Bagehot
A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe, and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself.

A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe, and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself.

Walter Bagehot
A man's mother is his misfortune, but his wife is his fault.

A man's mother is his misfortune, but his wife is his fault.

Walter Bagehot
Progress would not have been the rarity it is if the early food had not been the late poison.

Progress would not have been the rarity it is if the early food had not been the late poison.

Walter Bagehot
You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door neighbor.

You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door neighbor.

Walter Bagehot
Public opinion is a permeating influence, and it exacts obedience to itself; it requires us to drink other men's thoughts, to speak other men's words, to follow other men's habits.

Public opinion is a permeating influence, and it exacts obedience to itself; it requires us to drink other men's thoughts, to speak other men's words, to follow other men's habits.

Walter Bagehot
The best history is but like the art of Rembrandt; it casts a vivid light on certain selected causes, on those which were best and greatest; it leaves all the rest in shadow and unseen.

The best history is but like the art of Rembrandt; it casts a vivid light on certain selected causes, on those which were best and greatest; it leaves all the rest in shadow and unseen.

Walter Bagehot
So long as there are earnest believers in the world, they will always wish to punish opinions, even if their judgment tells them it is unwise and their conscience that it is wrong.

So long as there are earnest believers in the world, they will always wish to punish opinions, even if their judgment tells them it is unwise and their conscience that it is wrong.

Walter Bagehot
Woman absent is woman dead.

Woman absent is woman dead.

Walter Bagehot
Honor sinks where commerce long prevails.

Honor sinks where commerce long prevails.

Walter Bagehot
The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything.

The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything.

Walter Bagehot
We must not let daylight in upon the magic.

We must not let daylight in upon the magic.

Walter Bagehot
In every particular state of the world, those nations which are strongest tend to prevail over the others; and in certain marked peculiarities the strongest tend to be the best.

In every particular state of the world, those nations which are strongest tend to prevail over the others; and in certain marked peculiarities the strongest tend to be the best.

Walter Bagehot
The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Walter Bagehot
Writers like teeth are divided into incisors and grinders.

Writers like teeth are divided into incisors and grinders.

Walter Bagehot
It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations.

It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations.

Walter Bagehot
The reason that there are so few good books written is that so few people who write know anything.

The reason that there are so few good books written is that so few people who write know anything.

Walter Bagehot
The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency.

The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency.

Walter Bagehot
Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind.

Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind.

Walter Bagehot
Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders.

Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders.

Walter Bagehot
So long as war is the main business of nations, temporary despotism - despotism during the campaign - is indispensable.

So long as war is the main business of nations, temporary despotism - despotism during the campaign - is indispensable.

Walter Bagehot
The whole history of civilization is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.

The whole history of civilization is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.

Walter Bagehot
Men who do not make advances to women are apt to become victims to women who make advances to them.

Men who do not make advances to women are apt to become victims to women who make advances to them.

Walter Bagehot
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.

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
Life is a school of probability.

Life is a school of probability.

Walter Bagehot
The real essence of work is concentrated energy.

The real essence of work is concentrated energy.

Walter Bagehot
What impresses men is not mind, but the result of mind.

What impresses men is not mind, but the result of mind.

Walter Bagehot
The greatest please in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

The greatest please in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Walter Bagehot