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
people democracy rebellion
General rebellions and revolts of a whole people never were encouraged now or at any time. They are always provoked.
government democracy helping
I cannot help concurring with the opinion that an absolute democracy, no more than absolute monarchy, is to be reckoned among the legitimate forms of government.
freedom exercise democracy
In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.
generous nature suffered wise
Through a wise and salutary neglect, a generous nature has been suffered to take her own way to perfection.
ceases limit
There is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.
believe men hands
All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing as they must if they believe they can do nothing. There is nothing worse because the council of despair is declaration of irresponsibility; it is Pilate washing his hands.
jobs exercise office
In their nomination to office they will not appoint to the exercise of authority as to a pitiful job, but as to a holy function.
art partnership born
Art is a partnership not only between those who are living but between those who are dead and those who are yet to be born.
pain real delight
I am convinced that we have a degree of delight, and that no small one, in the real misfortunes and pain of others
people liberty spirit
That the greatest security of the people, against the encroachments and usurpations of their superiors, is to keep the Spirit of Liberty constantly awake, is an undeniable truth
block tree chips
He was not merely a chip off the old block, but the old block itself.
learning casts multitudes
Learning will be cast into the mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swinish multitude.
wise business bears
Taxing is an easy business. Any projector can contrive new impositions; any bungler can add to the old; but is it altogether wise to have no other bounds to your impositions than the patience of those who are to bear them?
country war passion
We are in a war of a peculiar nature. It is not with an ordinary community, which is hostile or friendly as passion or as interest may veer about: not with a state which makes war through wantonness, and abandons it through lassitude. We are at war with a system, which by its essence, is inimical to all other governments, and which makes peace or war, as peace and war may best contribute to their subversion. It is with an armed doctrine that we are at war. It has, by its essence, a faction of opinion, and of interest, and of enthusiasm, in every country.