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
fall political quality
Obstinacy, sir, is certainly a great vice; and in the changeful state of political affairs it is frequently the cause of great mischief. It happens, however, very unfortunately, that almost the whole line of the great and masculine virtues--constancy, gravity, magnanimity, fortitude, fidelity, and firmness--are closely allied to this disagreeable quality, of which you have so just an abhorrence; and in their excess all these virtues very easily fall into it.
men years people
It is very rare, indeed, for men to be wrong in their feelings concerning public misconduct; as rare to be right in their speculations upon the cause of it. I have constantly observed that the generality of people are fifty years, at least, behind in their politics.
business world wealth
It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.
character ignorant doe
Those who quit their proper character to assume what does not belong to them are, for the greater part, ignorant both of the character they leave and of the character they assume.
people leader auctions
When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.
weakness weak weakness-and-fear
The concessions of the weak are the concessions of fear.
wisdom mind stronger
The more accurately we search into the human mind, the stronger traces we everywhere find of the wisdom of Him who made it.
congratulations risk liberty
The effect of liberty to individuals is that they may do what they please: we ought to see what it will please them to do, before we risk congratulations.
sky soul larks
Teach me, O lark! with thee to greatly rise, to exalt my soul and lift it to the skies.
pain passion men
The person who grieves suffers his passion to grow upon him; he indulges it, he loves it; but this never happens in the case of actual pain, which no man ever willingly endured for any considerable time.
country wine beer
Under the pressure of the cares and sorrows of our mortal condition, men have at all times, and in all countries, called in some physical aid to their moral consolations - wine, beer, opium, brandy, or tobacco.
may unqualified faults
It is undoubtedly true, though it may seem paradoxical,--but, in general, those who are habitually employed in finding and displaying faults are unqualified for the work of reformation.
order society ornaments
Nobility is a graceful ornament to the civil order. It is the Corinthian capital of polished society.
passion suffering rebel
A populace never rebels from passion for attack, but from impatience of suffering.