But the main thing is that it should first discern men and women of ability and of character and then elect them for its representatives, rejecting those, it may be of more dazzling qualities, who are unstable in mind and consumed with vanity.

It would be well if the elected representative were always an inhabitant of the county or the borough, known to his neighbours, and of tested worth.

True, the prophet is often without honour in his own country, and a constituency acts wisely in electing a representative of national repute.

But to search for a man of wealth who will subsidise every club and charitable institution in the constituency, and to rejoice when such a candidate is procured from some political headquarters, is a wretched proceeding in a democratic state.

The member who buys a constituency by his gifts will always feel entitled to sell his constituents should occasion arise.
Again, the delegate theory of representation can be a danger to democracy.
A Parliamentary representative is something better than a mechanical contrivance for registering the opinions of electors on certain subjects.
Otherwise all Parliamentary debate is a mockery.