Quote

A thing may look specious in theory, and yet be ruinous in practice a thing may look evil in theory, and yet be in practice excellent.

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
Excellent
Theory
Practice
Evil
May
Look
Looks
Specious
Thing
Ruinous

More quotes by Edmund Burke

Image
Dogs are indeed the most social, affectionate, and amiable animals of the whole brute creation.
Edmund Burke
Image
That cardinal virtue, temperance.
Edmund Burke
Image
A nation is not conquered which is perpetually to be conquered.
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
Image
The most favourable laws can do very little towards the happiness of people when the disposition of the ruling power is adverse to them.
Edmund Burke
Image
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.
Edmund Burke
Image
To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to deprecate the value of freedom itself.
Edmund Burke
Image
Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation.
Edmund Burke
Image
Poetry is the art of substantiating shadows, and of lending existence to nothing.
Edmund Burke
Image
The great Error of our Nature is, not to know where to stop, not to be satisfied with any reasonable Acquirement not to compound with our Condition but to lose all we have gained by an insatiable Pursuit after more.
Edmund Burke
Image
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
Image
The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.
Edmund Burke
Image
An entire life of solitude contradicts the purpose of our being, since death itself is scarcely an idea of more terror.
Edmund Burke
Image
Ambition can creep as well as soar.
Edmund Burke
Image
Of this stamp is the cant of, Not men, but measures.
Edmund Burke
Image
If you can be well without health, you may be happy without virtue.
Edmund Burke
Image
He was not merely a chip off the old block, but the old block itself.
Edmund Burke
Image
In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.
Edmund Burke
Image
The question is not whether you have a right to render people miserable, but whether it is not in your best interest to make them happy.
Edmund Burke
Image
An extreme rigor is sure to arm everything against it.
Edmund Burke