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
errors pursuit satisfied
The great Error of our Nature is, not to know where to stop, not to be satisfied with any reasonable Acquirement; not to compound with our Condition; but to lose all we have gained by an insatiable Pursuit after more.
past drawing errors
In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.
errors liberty inheritance
They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance.
errors liberty complaining
It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.
bad good men sacrifice struggle
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle
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
change means state
A state without some means of change is without the means of its conservation
antagonist nerves
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist in our helper.
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.
bullying freedom work
The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.
government unjust oppressive-governments
Nothing turns out to be so oppressive and unjust as a feeble government.
above chains civil exact justice liberties love men moral proportion qualified
Men are qualified for civil liberties in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their appetites: in proportion as their love of justice is above their rapacity
courage greater mistake nobody
Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little