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It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, by leaving much to free will, even with some loss of the object , than to attempt to make men mere machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world on the whole will gain by a liberty, without which virtue cannot exist.

Edmund Burke

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Edmund Burke
Age: 68 †
Born: 1729
Born: January 12
Died: 1797
Died: July 9
Philosopher
Politician
Statesman
Writer
Dublin city
Even
Liberty
Gains
Much
Humanity
Machines
Free
Leaving
Benevolence
Make
Political
Mere
Cherish
Men
Cannot
Exist
Attempt
World
Better
Objects
Gain
Without
Loss
Object
Whole
Virtue
Instruments

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The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.
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Crimes lead into one another. They who are capable of being forgers, are capable of being incendiaries.
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I venture to say no war can be long carried on against the will of the people.
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Whatever each man can separately do, without trespassing upon others, he has a right to do for himself and he has a right to a fair portion of all which society, with all it combinations of skill and force, can do in his favor. In this partnership all men have equal rights but not to equal things.
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Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.
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There is nothing in the world really beneficial that does not lie within the reach of an informed understanding and a well-protected pursuit.
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The esteem of wise and good men is the greatest of all temporal encouragements to virtue and it is a mark of an abandoned spirit to have no regard to it.
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It may be observed, that very polished languages, and such as are praised for their superior clearness and perspicuity, are generally deficient in strength.
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Education is the cheap defense of nations.
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Good company, lively conversation, and the endearments of friendship fill the mind with great pleasure.
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The essence of tyranny is the enforcement of stupid laws.
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England and Ireland may flourish together. The world is large enough for both of us. Let it be our care not to make ourselves too little for it.
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Liberty, without wisdom, is license.
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If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.
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And having looked to Government for bread, on the very first scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them.
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There is no safety for honest men, but by believing all possible evil of evil men, and by acting with promptitude, decision, and steadiness on that belief.
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Where two motives, neither of them perfectly justifiable, may be assigned, the worst has the chance of being preferred.
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Liberty must be limited in order to be possessed.
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Ambition can creep as well as soar.
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Parliament is a deliberate assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole where, not local purpose, not local prejudices ought to guide but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole.
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