Quote

This sort of people are so taken up with their theories about the rights of man that they have totally forgotten his nature.

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
Men
Forgotten
People
Theory
Sort
Rights
Politics
Taken
Political
Theories
Nature
Totally

More quotes by Edmund Burke

Image
The whole compass of the language is tried to find sinonimies [synonyms] and circumlocutions for massacres and murder. Things never called by their common names. Massacre is sometimes called agitation, sometimes effervescence, sometimes excess sometimes too continued an exercise of revolutionary power.
Edmund Burke
Image
Curiosity is the most superficial of all the affections it changes its object perpetually it has an appetite which is very sharp, but very easily satisfied, and it has always an appearance of giddiness, restlessness and anxiety.
Edmund Burke
Image
I am not one of those who think that the people are never in the wrong. They have been so, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries and in this. But I do say that in all disputes between them and their rulers, the presumption is at least upon a par in favour of the people.
Edmund Burke
Image
Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of your young peoples, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the next generation.
Edmund Burke
Image
Liberty, without wisdom, is license.
Edmund Burke
Image
Ambition can creep as well as soar.
Edmund Burke
Image
There are circumstances in which despair does not imply inactivity.
Edmund Burke
Image
The essence of tyranny is the enforcement of stupid laws.
Edmund Burke
Image
He that borrows the aid of an equal understanding doubles his own he that uses that of a superior elevates his own to the stature of that he contemplates.
Edmund Burke
Image
Neither the few nor the many have a right to act merely by their will, in any matter connected with duty, trust, engagement, or obligation.
Edmund Burke
Image
The concessions of the weak are the concessions of fear.
Edmund Burke
Image
Where two motives, neither of them perfectly justifiable, may be assigned, the worst has the chance of being preferred.
Edmund Burke
Image
Contempt is not a thing to be despised.
Edmund Burke
Image
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.
Edmund Burke
Image
Humanity cannot be degraded by humiliation.
Edmund Burke
Image
It looks to me to be narrow and pedantic to apply the ordinary ideas of criminal justice to this great public contest. I do not know the method of drawing up an indictment against a whole people.
Edmund Burke
Image
Frugality is founded on the principal that all riches have limits.
Edmund Burke
Image
Tyrants seldom want pretexts.
Edmund Burke
Image
In all forms of government the people is the true legislator.
Edmund Burke
Image
Whenever our neighbour's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own.
Edmund Burke