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
moving fall race
By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never old, or middle-aged, or young; but, in a condition of unchangeable constancy, moves on through the varied tenor of perpetual decay, fall, renovation, and progression.
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.
war fall law
Laws are commanded to hold their tongues among arms; and tribunals fall to the ground with the peace they are no longer able to uphold.
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 men needed prosper
The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.
heart keeps shame virtue whilst wholly
Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart
generous nature suffered wise
Through a wise and salutary neglect, a generous nature has been suffered to take her own way to perfection.
founded frugality limits principle riches
Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits
ceases limit virtue
There is, however, a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue
exalted general opinion paper virtue
I have in general no very exalted opinion of the virtue of paper government.
fills grain mountain national proportion separated truly useless valuable works
If the grain were separated from the chaff, which fills the works of our national poets, what is truly valuable would be to what is useless in the proportion of a molehill to a mountain
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.
anxious confident despised ruined security
Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than be ruined by too confident a security
antagonist nerves
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist in our helper.