Edward C. Banfield Quotes

A collection of quotes by Edward C. Banfield.

Edward C. Banfield (1916-1999) was an American political scientist known for his research in the field of urban government and public policy. He served as a professor at Harvard University for over three decades and authored several influential books, including "The Moral Basis of a Backward Society" (1958) and "The Unheavenly City" (1968). Banfield's work focused on the dynamics of urban living, social capital, and the role of individual motivations in shaping public policy outcomes. His ideas and theories continue to be widely discussed and debated in the fields of political science and urban studies.

Every political system is an accumulation of habits, customs

Every political system is an accumulation of habits, customs, prejudices, and principles that have survived a long process of trial and error and of ceaseless response to changing circumstances. If the system works well on the whole, it is a lucky accident -- the luckiest, indeed, that can befall a society.

Edward C. Banfield

Politics