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
direct discretion finest individual itself ought problems state
It is one of the finest problems in legislation, what the state ought to take upon itself to direct and what it ought to leave, with as little interference as possible, to individual discretion
evil good man necessary
It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph.
commercial everywhere found interest wealth
It is in the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere
crushed enemies hope laws legal lose people power
People crushed by laws, have no hope but to evade power. If the laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to the law; and those who have most to hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous.
fits handle
Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.
insects loud though
The little, meagre, shrivelled, hopping, though loud and troublesome insects of the hour.
founded frugality limits principle riches
Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits
arises good mischief words
A very good part of the mischief that vex the world arises from words
case sort taught treason
I know that many have been taught to think that moderation, in a case like this, is a sort of treason
courage greater mistake nobody
Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little
government human men provide provided wants wisdom
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Men have a right that these wants should be provided for by this wisdom.
means nation reform survival
A nation without the means of reform is without the means of survival
conscience gain good needs people remain
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
anxious confident despised ruined security
Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than be ruined by too confident a security