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Where two motives, neither of them perfectly justifiable, may be assigned, the worst has the chance of being preferred.

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
May
Motive
Perfectly
Neither
Worst
Politics
Justifiable
Chance
Assigned
Political
Preferred
Two
Motives

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When you fear something, learn as much about it as you can. Knowledge conquers fear.
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In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.
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A nation without means of reform is without means of survival.
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True religion is the foundation of society. When that is once shaken by contempt, the whole fabric cannot be stable nor lasting.
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To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.
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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.
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Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings.
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Genuine simplicity of heart is a healing and cementing principle.
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Between craft and credulity, the voice of reason is stifled.
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The superfluities of a rich nation furnish a better object of trade than the necessities of a poor one. It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.
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Corrupt influence is itself the perennial spring of all prodigality, and of all disorder it loads us more than millions of debt takes away vigor from our arms, wisdom from our councils, and every shadow of authority and credit from the most venerable parts of our constitution.
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Man is an animal that cooks his victuals.
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History is a pact between the dead, the living, and the yet unborn.
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Somebody has said, that a king may make a nobleman but he cannot make a gentleman.
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Some degree of novelty must be one of the materials in almost every instrument which works upon the mind and curiosity blends itself, more or less, with all our pleasures.
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What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the fitness of your man and then you must retain some hold upon him by personal obligation or dependence.
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When ancient opinions and rules of life are taken away, the loss cannot possibly be estimated. From that moment, we have no compass to govern us, nor can we know distinctly to what port to steer.
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Religion is among the most powerful causes of enthusiasm.
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