From John Buchan (see below):

You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass. A touch here, a push there, and you bring back the reign of Saturn.

... and for Canadians:

The Augustan constitution remains one of the major products of the human intelligence. It was a whole into which the parts fitted smoothly, but both whole and parts were elastic and capable of swift adaptation to unforeseen conditions. It was elaborate, but that was necessary, both because of its origin and its purpose.

... now consider that Buchan was great pals with Mackenzie King; I've usually thought that the concentration of power in the PMO in this country didn't occur until Pierre Trudeau's principate; perhaps the process began with MK??? Under the influence of Buchan???