"You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door neighbor"

This quote by Walter Bagehot speaks with the concept that one of the most overbearing and totalitarian pressure in our lives is not always the far-off, powerful leaders of the past, however rather individuals closest to us. Bagehot is suggesting that the tyranny of our neighbors can be a lot more overbearing than that of a far-off ruler, as our next-door neighbors are most likely to have a direct as well as immediate influence on our lives. This might be in the type of chatter, objection, or perhaps physical violence. Bagehot is alerting us to be familiar with the power of our neighbors and to be mindful of just how we interact with them. He is also recommending that we should be much more familiar with our very own actions as well as exactly how it could influence our next-door neighbors. Eventually, Bagehot is highlighting the significance of recognizing the power dynamics of our relationships as well as being mindful of how our actions can impact those around us.