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.
Source: Physics and Politics, ch. 2, sct. 1 (1872).
-- Walter Bagehot, (Feb 3 1826-1877), English economist, editor, critic, analyst; He founded and edited The Economist 1860-77; wrote English Constitution, 1867.