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Nothing, indeed, but the possession of some power can with any certainty discover what at the bottom is the true character of any man.

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
Indeed
Bottom
True
Power
Character
Nothing
Certainty
Men
Possession
Discover

More quotes by Edmund Burke

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A great empire and little minds go ill together.
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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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A nation is not conquered which is perpetually to be conquered.
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Learning will be cast into the mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swinish multitude.
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I venture to say no war can be long carried on against the will of the people.
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Equity money is dynamic and debt money is static.
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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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But the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded and the glory of Europe is extinguished forever.
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To give freedom is still more easy. It is not necessary to guide it only requires to let go the rein. But to form a free government that is, to temper together these opposite elements of liberty and restraint in one work, requires much thought, deep reflection, a sagacious, powerful, and combining mind.
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Party is a body of men united, for promoting by their joint endeavours the national interest, upon some particular principle in which they are all agreed.
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True religion is the foundation of society. When that is once shaken by contempt, the whole fabric cannot be stable nor lasting.
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This sort of people are so taken up with their theories about the rights of man that they have totally forgotten his nature.
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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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The marketplace obliges men, whether they will or not, in pursuing their own selfish interests, to connect the general good with their own individual success.
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As mankind becomes more enlightened to know their real interests, they will esteem the value of agriculture they will find it in their natural--their destined occupation.
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To execute laws is a royal office to execute orders is not to be a king. However, a political executive magistracy, though merely such, is a great trust.
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Not men but measures a sort of charm by which many people get loose from every honorable engagement.
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Over-taxation cost England her colonies of North America.
Edmund Burke
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In a free country every man thinks he has a concern in all public matters,--that he has a right to form and a right to deliver an opinion on them. This it is that fills countries with men of ability in all stations.
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The conduct of a losing party never appears right: at least it never can possess the only infallible criterion of wisdom to vulgar judgements-success.
Edmund Burke