"[The politician's] whole career has only two stages: first, as quickly as possible to represent his town; then as quickly as possible to misrepresent it."

The politicians do want to fight every species of superstition, including what they consider the superstition of democracy. Politicians are always by the nature of things the enemies of crowds. There have been dark and tremendous times when the politicians have shot down the crowds. On the other hand, there have been brighter and purer times when the crowds have torn the politicians in pieces. But always the man who cared first and foremost for politics has been essentially separated from the men who made up the people....

In Parliamentary countries like England and America the politician has only two successive desires. First, he wishes to do what the people want in order to become an M.P. Then he wishes to do what the people don't want in order to become a Cabinet Minister. His whole career has only two stages: first, as quickly as possible to represent his town; then as quickly as possible to misrepresent it. Again and again, in the history of all representative Governments, this simple and yet subtle game has been played. Out of Parliament the politician persuades the people that he really wants what they want. Inside Parliament the politician persuades the people that they really want what he wants.

-December 22, 1906, Illustrated London News