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I am convinced that we have a degree of delight, and that no small one, in the real misfortunes and pain of others

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
Pain
Others
Real
Misfortunes
Degree
Delight
Convinced
Degrees
Small

More quotes by Edmund Burke

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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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It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals that their maxims have a plausible air and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin and about as valuable.
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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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The writers against religion, whilst they oppose every system, are wisely careful never to set up any of their own.
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Among precautions against ambition, it may not be amiss to take precautions against our own. I must fairly say, I dread our own power and our own ambition: I dread our being too much dreaded.
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Fiction lags after truth, invention is unfruitful, and imagination cold and barren.
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It is undoubtedly true, though it may seem paradoxical,--but, in general, those who are habitually employed in finding and displaying faults are unqualified for the work of reformation.
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A man is allowed sufficient freedom of thought, provided he knows how to choose his subject properly.... But the scene is changed as you come homeward, and atheism or treason may be the names given in Britain to what would be reason and truth if asserted in China.
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In all forms of government the people is the true legislator.
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All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.
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Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never can willingly abandon it. They may be distressed in the midst of all their power but they will never look to anything but power for their relief.
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Responsibility prevents crimes.
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Ambition can creep as well as soar.
Edmund Burke
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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
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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.
Edmund Burke
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All virtue which is impracticable is spurious.
Edmund Burke
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No man can mortgage his injustice as a pawn for his fidelity.
Edmund Burke
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Government is the exercise of all the great qualities of the human mind.
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Of all things, wisdom is the most terrified with epidemical fanaticism, because, of all enemies, it is that against which she is the least able to furnish any kind of resource.
Edmund Burke
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The only training for the heroic is the mundane.
Edmund Burke