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Walter Bagehot Quotes

Journalist

Walter Bagehot was an English journalist and social philosopher, best known for his editorial role at The Economist. His writings on economics, finance, and political institutions have had a profound impact on the field.

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Famous Walter Bagehot Quotes

“What we opprobriously call stupidity, though not an enlivening quality in common society, is nature's favorite resource for preserving steadiness of conduct and consistency of opinion.”

Common Quality Opinion Resources Stupidity Consistency Steadiness

Book:Literary studies ; Religious and metaphysical essays ; Letters on the French coup d'état

Source: Literary studies ; Religious and metaphysical essays ; Letters on the French coup d'état

“Stupidity is nature's favorite resource for preserving consistency of opinion.”

Opinion Resources Stupidity Consistency

Author: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.”

Ifs World Long Wish Fear Opinion Judgment Conscience Believer Judgement Earnest Unwise

Book:The Collected Works of Walter Bagehot: Miscellany

Source: The Collected Works of Walter Bagehot: Miscellany

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

Men Politics Ability Common Opinion Politician Statesmen Uncommon Statesmanship Politicians And Politics

Author: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.”

Men Speak Opinion Influence Habit Drink Obedience Public Opinion

Author: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.”

People Humans Pain Political Politics Opinion Human Nature Painful Leap Hasty

Book:The best of Bagehot

Source: The best of Bagehot