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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.

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
Take
Dreaded
Must
Precaution
Much
Dread
Fairly
Ambition
Among
Power
Precautions
May
Amiss

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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.
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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
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The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again and a nation is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered.
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Good company, lively conversation, and the endearments of friendship fill the mind with great pleasure.
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Man is an animal that cooks his victuals.
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If any ask me what a free government is, I answer, that, for any practical purpose, it is what the people think so,and that they, and not I, are the natural, lawful, and competent judges of this matter.
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The religion most prevalent in our northern colonies is a refinement on the principles of resistance: it is the dissidence of dissent, and the protestantism of the Protestant religion.
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A definition may be very exact, and yet go but a very little way towards informing us of the nature of the thing defined.
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Pleasure of every kind quickly satisfies.
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Government is the exercise of all the great qualities of the human mind.
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Fellowship in treason is a bad ground of confidence.
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Prudence is not only the first in rank of the virtues political and moral, but she is the director and regulator, the standard of them all.
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The march of the human mind is slow.
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The most favourable laws can do very little towards the happiness of people when the disposition of the ruling power is adverse to them.
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People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
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Genuine simplicity of heart is a healing and cementing principle.
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A very great part of the mischiefs that vex the world arises from words.
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Evil prevails when good men fail to act.
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A good parson once said that where mystery begins religion ends. Cannot I say, as truly at least, of human laws, that where mystery begins justice ends?
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