Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burkewas an Irish statesman born in Dublin, as well as an author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher who, after moving to London, served as a member of parliamentfor many years in the House of Commons with the Whig Party...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth12 January 1729
CountryIreland
foundation good order
Good order is the foundation of all good things
despair work
Never despair, but if you do, work in despair
heart keeps shame virtue whilst wholly
Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart
chains exact liberty moral proportion qualified
What is liberty without...virtue? It is...madness, without restraint.Men are qualified for liberty in exact proportion to their dispositionto put moral chains upon their own appetites.
law justice judging
All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they have no power over the substance of original justice.
backward confined generally people result spirit temper
A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
antagonist nerves
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist in our helper.
inspirational wisdom witty
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
wisdom historical conservative
Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.
wise passion men
Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites…in proportion as they are more disposed to listen to the counsels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.
life encouragement time
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.
inspirational patience virtue
Our patience will achieve more than our force.
relationship taken people
People must be taken as they are, and we should never try make them or ourselves better by quarreling with them.
commitment government political
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.