--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The caucus is a sort of representative…" description: "\"The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the known men against whom much is to be said, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg" --- # The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits… ![“The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the known men against whom much is to be said, and agreed on some unknown man against whom there is nothing known, and therefore nothing to be alleged.” quote by Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg) > “The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the known men against whom much is to be said, and agreed on some unknown man against whom there is nothing known, and therefore nothing to be alleged.” [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political systems often settle on compromise candidates unknown to the public, revealing flaws in representative democracy. **In simple terms:** Democracy can produce unknown, unvetted leaders. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and accountability in elections. Themes democracy politics representation Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - voting processes - party nominations - public debates Key Concepts political theory electoral systems Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can improve candidate visibility? - How does voter apathy affect outcomes? A Different Perspective Compromise may lead to uninformed choices, reducing public trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caucus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caucus/) [Caucus Sort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caucus-sort-1325087/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Representative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representative/) [Representative Meeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representative-meeting-1325088/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sits Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sits-voting-1325089/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) ## Related quotes > [It would convert the Treasury of the United States into a manufactory of paper money. It makes the House of Representatives and the Senate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/it-would-convert-the-treasury-of-the-united-states-into-a-manufactory/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [You had 42 blacks that ran on the Republican ticket this Cycle, 14 made of them made it to the general election and two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/you-had-42-blacks-that-ran-on-the-republican-ticket-this-cycle-14/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Good Dems are good Dems. They want a representative that really reflects their values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/good-dems-are-good-dems-they-want-a-representative-that-really/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [Governments are not representative. They have their own power, serving segments of the population that are dominant and rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-not-representative-they-have-their-own-power-serving/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Praying men are God's agents on earth, the representative of government of Heaven, set to a specific task on the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/praying-men-are-god-s-agents-on-earth-the-representative-of/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [There's a real danger in the way our representative government functions today. It functions properly only when paired with accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-s-a-real-danger-in-the-way-our-representative-government/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I am a man of parliament, a man of the people. I am not a representative of the executives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-am-a-man-of-parliament-a-man-of-the-people-i-am-not-a/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Governments are not representative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-not-representative/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I'm willing to be representative. I'm just an actor. I'm just playing a role, so even if it is a person I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/i-m-willing-to-be-representative-i-m-just-an-actor-i-m-just-playing-a/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [A benefactor is a representative of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-benefactor-is-a-representative-of-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Our need to identify with representative figures is something that never goes away. We still find those in novels. We find those in television.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-specktor/our-need-to-identify-with-representative-figures-is-something-that/) [Matthew Specktor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-specktor/) > [It ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-ought-to-be-the-happiness-and-glory-of-a-representative-to-live-in/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [A sailing ship is no democracy; you don't caucus a crew as to where you'll go anymore than you inquire when they'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-hayden/a-sailing-ship-is-no-democracy-you-don-t-caucus-a-crew-as-to-where/) [Sterling Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-hayden/) > [As an active member of the Air Force, Army and Mine Warfare Caucuses, I meet with enlisted personnel and officers on a regular basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-boyd/as-an-active-member-of-the-air-force-army-and-mine-warfare-caucuses-i/) [Allen Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-boyd/) > [All my life I've been involved with racial politics. I was a Freedom Rider in the South. I was the author of books on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/all-my-life-i-ve-been-involved-with-racial-politics-i-was-a-freedom/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) ## More by Walter Bagehot > [But of all nations in the world the English are perhaps the least a nation of pure philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/but-of-all-nations-in-the-world-the-english-are-perhaps-the-least-a/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights - the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-sovereign-has-under-a-constitutional-monarchy-such-as-ours-three/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The most essential mental quality for a free people, whose liberty is to be progressive, permanent and on a large scale, is much stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-most-essential-mental-quality-for-a-free-people-whose-liberty-is/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Adventure is the life of commerce, but caution is the life of banking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/adventure-is-the-life-of-commerce-but-caution-is-the-life-of-banking/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/a-severe-though-not-unfriendly-critic-of-our-institutions-said-that/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/nothing-is-more-unpleasant-than-a-virtuous-person-with-a-mean-mind/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [What impresses men is not mind, but the result of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/what-impresses-men-is-not-mind-but-the-result-of-mind/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/an-inability-to-stay-quiet-is-one-of-the-conspicuous-failings-of/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Most men of business think "Anyhow this system will probably last my time. It has gone on a long time, and is likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/most-men-of-business-think-anyhow-this-system-will-probably-last-my/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Life is a school of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/life-is-a-school-of-probability/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [When great questions end, little parties begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/when-great-questions-end-little-parties-begin/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The peculiar essence of our banking system is an unprecedented trust between man and man. And when that trust is much weakened by hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-peculiar-essence-of-our-banking-system-is-an-unprecedented-trust/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speech-is-a-symptom-of-mental/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Not only does a bureaucracy tend to under-government in point of quality; it tends to over-government in point of quantity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/not-only-does-a-bureaucracy-tend-to-under-government-in-point-of/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [In early times every sort of advantage tends to become a military advantage; such is the best way, then, to keep it alive. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/in-early-times-every-sort-of-advantage-tends-to-become-a-military/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) [Explore all 123 Walter Bagehot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) ## More Caucus quotes > [All my life I've been involved with racial politics. I was a Freedom Rider in the South. I was the author of books on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/all-my-life-i-ve-been-involved-with-racial-politics-i-was-a-freedom/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [As an active member of the Air Force, Army and Mine Warfare Caucuses, I meet with enlisted personnel and officers on a regular basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-boyd/as-an-active-member-of-the-air-force-army-and-mine-warfare-caucuses-i/) [Allen Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-boyd/) > [A sailing ship is no democracy; you don't caucus a crew as to where you'll go anymore than you inquire when they'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-hayden/a-sailing-ship-is-no-democracy-you-don-t-caucus-a-crew-as-to-where/) [Sterling Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-hayden/) > [We have a variety of views in our party, a variety of views in our caucus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-scheer/we-have-a-variety-of-views-in-our-party-a-variety-of-views-in-our/) [Andrew Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-scheer/) > [Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, bypassed the debate before the Iowa caucuses because he objected to the participation of moderator Megyn Kelly as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/donald-trump-the-republican-frontrunner-bypassed-the-debate-before/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [You had 42 blacks that ran on the Republican ticket this Cycle, 14 made of them made it to the general election and two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/you-had-42-blacks-that-ran-on-the-republican-ticket-this-cycle-14/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [The Democratic Party is a coalition. Its strength and its weakness is, it's a coalition of interest groups, caucuses. It's a lot less homogeneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/the-democratic-party-is-a-coalition-its-strength-and-its-weakness-is/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [My teenage children watched Senator Clinton on the Today Show, mouths agape. They attended our local caucus with me and saw hundreds of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoshana-zuboff/my-teenage-children-watched-senator-clinton-on-the-today-show-mouths/) [Shoshana Zuboff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoshana-zuboff/) > [CNN recently ran a sort of roundup article on why some conservatives say that Trump talk is fascist. The roundup included this tweet from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/cnn-recently-ran-a-sort-of-roundup-article-on-why-some-conservatives/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [What is the difference between a cactus and a conservative caucus? On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-diefenbaker/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cactus-and-a-conservative-caucus-on/) [John Diefenbaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-diefenbaker/) > [As co-chair of the Iraqi Women's Caucus in the House, I've enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with and hear from Iraqi women elected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-tauscher/as-co-chair-of-the-iraqi-women-s-caucus-in-the-house-i-ve-enjoyed-the/) [Ellen Tauscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-tauscher/) > [I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-hope-i-am-the-tim-tebow-of-the-iowa-caucuses/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We don't have a caucus, because we differ on so many views. Some of us are pro-choice, some are not. We'll take the issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/we-don-t-have-a-caucus-because-we-differ-on-so-many-views-some-of-us/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [Pell grants are the foundation of Federal student aid. As someone who attended college with the help of Pell grants and as chairman of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-keller/pell-grants-are-the-foundation-of-federal-student-aid-as-someone-who/) [Ric Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-keller/) > [ The meeting \[in San Antonio of the National Women's Political Caucus\] featured a cattle show at which a herd of Democratic candidates- Glenn, Cranston,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-seligman/the-meeting-in-san-antonio-of-the-national-women-s-political-caucus/) [Daniel Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-seligman/) [Browse all 110 Caucus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caucus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the known men against whom much is to be said, and agreed on some unknown man against whom there is nothing known, and therefore nothing to be alleged.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Bagehot" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-meeting-which-sits-voting-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caucus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-meeting-which-sits-voting-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/walter-bagehot-3686_caucus_the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-m_910105.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the…” — Walter Bagehot", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter Bagehot", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The caucus is a sort of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-meeting-which-sits-voting-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-caucus-is-a-sort-of-representative-meeting-which-sits-voting-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```