Quote

Taxing is an easy business. Any projector can contrive new compositions, any bungler can add to the old.

Edmund Burke

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Edmund Burke
Age: 68 †
Born: 1729
Born: January 12
Died: 1797
Died: July 9
Philosopher
Politician
Statesman
Writer
Dublin city
Business
Projectors
Contrive
Compositions
Taxing
Taxation
Composition
Add
Bungler
Easy
Projector

More quotes by Edmund Burke

Image
The worthy gentleman who has been snatched from us at the moment of the election, and in the middle of the contest, whilst his desires were as warm and his hopes as eager as ours, has feelingly told us what shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue.
Edmund Burke
Image
I venture to say no war can be long carried on against the will of the people.
Edmund Burke
Image
Somebody has said, that a king may make a nobleman but he cannot make a gentleman.
Edmund Burke
Image
Never, no never, did Nature say one thing, and wisdom another.
Edmund Burke
Image
Nothing is so rash as fear and the counsels of pusillanimity very rarely put off, whilst they are always sure to aggravate, the evils from which they would fly.
Edmund Burke
Image
To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.
Edmund Burke
Image
People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws and those who have much hope and nothing to lose, will always be dangerous.
Edmund Burke
Image
I despair of ever receiving the same degree of pleasure from the most exalted performances of genius which I felt in childhood from pieces which my present judgment regards as trifling and contemptible.
Edmund Burke
Image
Poetry is the art of substantiating shadows, and of lending existence to nothing.
Edmund Burke
Image
Thank God, men that art greatly guilty are never wise.
Edmund Burke
Image
To speak of atrocious crime in mild language is treason to virtue.
Edmund Burke
Image
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.
Edmund Burke
Image
The truly sublime is always easy, and always natural.
Edmund Burke
Image
The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.
Edmund Burke
Image
Contempt is not a thing to be despised. It may be borne with a calm and equal mind, but no man, by lifting his head high, can pretend that he does not perceive the scorns that are poured down on him from above.
Edmund Burke
Image
But whoever is a genuine follower of Truth, keeps his eye steady upon his guide, indifferent whither he is led, provided that she is the leader.
Edmund Burke
Image
Though ugliness be the opposite of beauty, it is not the opposite to proportion and fitness for it is possible that a thing may be very ugly with any proportions, and with a perfect fitness for any use.
Edmund Burke
Image
God has sometimes converted wickedness into madness and it is to the credit of human reason that men who are not in some degree mad are never capable of being in the highest degree wicked.
Edmund Burke
Image
And having looked to Government for bread, on the very first scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them.
Edmund Burke
Image
For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever
Edmund Burke