The apparent rulers of the English nation are like the imposing personages of a splendid procession: it is by them the mob are influenced; it is they whom the spectators cheer. The real rulers are secreted in second-rate carriages; no one cares for them or asks after them, but they are obeyed implicitly and unconsciously by reason of the splendor of those who eclipsed and preceded them.

Summary

This quote highlights the idea that in society, the influential figures who appear to be in power and receive public attention are not necessarily the true rulers. It compares them to the extravagant participants in a grand procession, attracting the admiration of the crowd. However, the real power lies hidden in the background, represented metaphorically as those traveling in less impressive carriages, overlooked and unasked about. Despite their lack of public recognition, these invisible rulers hold an implicit and unconscious sway over the governed, due to the prestige and influence of their predecessors.

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