Quote

There are three estates in Parliament but in the Reporters' Gallery yonder there sits a Fourth Estate more important far than they all. It is not a figure of speech or witty saying, it is a literal fact, very momentous to us in these times.

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
Times
Fourth
Momentous
Facts
Witty
Estate
Three
Figure
Gallery
Important
Figures
Sits
Speech
Literal
Saying
Estates
Knowledge
Parliament
Fact
Reporters
Yonder

More quotes by Edmund Burke

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Men love to hear of their power, but have an extreme disrelish to be told their duty.
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In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.
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Never, no never, did Nature say one thing, and wisdom another.
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Man is by his constitution a religious animal atheism is against not only our reason, but our instincts.
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It is for the most part in our skill in manners, and in the observations of time and place and of decency in general, that what is called taste by way of distinction consists and which is in reality no other than a more refined judgment.
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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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Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.
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Contempt is not a thing to be despised. It may be borne with a calm and equal mind, but no man, by lifting his head high, can pretend that he does not perceive the scorns that are poured down on him from above.
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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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Government is the exercise of all the great qualities of the human mind.
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Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.
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He who calls in the aid of an equal understanding doubles his own and he who profits by a superior understanding raises his powers to a level with the height of the superior standing he unites with.
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Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety.
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Manners are of more importance than laws. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe.
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The person who grieves suffers his passion to grow upon him he indulges it, he loves it but this never happens in the case of actual pain, which no man ever willingly endured for any considerable time.
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Prejudice renders a man's virtue his habit, and a series of unconnected arts. Though just prejudice, his duty becomes a part of his nature.
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It is, generally, in the season of prosperity that men discover their real temper, principles, and designs.
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Is it in destroying and pulling down that skill is displayed? The shallowest understanding, the rudest hand, is more than equal to that task.
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Men have no right to what is not reasonable, and to what is not for their benefit.
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Liberty does not exist in the absence of morality.
Edmund Burke