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Edmund Burke Quotes - Page 16

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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

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.

Witty, Knowledge, Important

The love of lucre, though sometimes carried to a ridiculous excess, a vicious excess, is the grand cause of prosperity to all States.

Excess, Causes, Ridiculous

Edmund Burke (2008). “The Writings and Speeches of Edmund Burke”, p.455, Cosimo, Inc.

Laws are commanded to hold their tongues among arms; and tribunals fall to the ground with the peace they are no longer able to uphold.

War, Fall, Law

Edmund Burke (2014). “Revolutionary Writings: Reflections on the Revolution in France and the First Letter on a Regicide Peace”, p.31, Cambridge University Press

Tyrants seldom want pretexts.

Peace, War, Tyrants

'Letter to a Member of the National Assembly' (1791) p. 25

Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural power corrupts both the heart and the understanding.

Heart, Tyrants, Political

Edmund Burke (1858). “The Inherent Evils of All State Governments Demonstrated; Being a Reprint of ... “A Vindication of Natural Society.” With Notes and an Appendix, Etc”, p.19

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.

Reality, Skills, Way

There is a time when the hoary head of inveterate abuse will neither draw reverence nor obtain protection.

Abuse, Protection, Reverence

Edmund Burke, James BURKE (Barrister-at-Law.) (1854). “The Speeches of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, with Memoir and Historical Introductions. By James Burke”, p.178

The poorest being that crawls on earth, contending to save itself from injustice and oppression, is an object respectable in the eyes of God and man.

Eye, Men, Earth

Edmund Burke (1826). “The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke”, p.93

I despair of ever receiving the same degree of pleasure from the most exalted performances of genius which I felt in childhood from pieces which my present judgment regards as trifling and contemptible.

Childhood, Romance, Despair

Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations.

Men, Adequate, Metaphysical

Edmund Burke, James BURKE (Barrister-at-Law.) (1854). “The Speeches of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, with Memoir and Historical Introductions. By James Burke”, p.115

In such a strait the wisest may well be perplexed and the boldest staggered.

Wisdom, May, Wells

Edmund Burke (1852). “The Works and Correspondence of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke”, p.161

It is hard to say whether doctors of law or divinity have made the greater advances in the lucrative business of mystery.

Doctors, Law, Justice

Edmund Burke, Ian Harris (1993). “Pre-Revolutionary Writings”, p.50, Cambridge University Press

The esteem of wise and good men is the greatest of all temporal encouragements to virtue; and it is a mark of an abandoned spirit to have no regard to it.

Wise, Encouragement, Good Man

In effect, to follow, not to force the public inclination; to give a direction, a form, a technical dress, and a specific sanction, to the general sense of the community, is the true end of legislature.

Law, Giving, Community

Edmund Burke (1999). “The Portable Edmund Burke”, p.285, Penguin

Abstract liberty, like other mere abstractions, is not to be found.

Liberty, Abstract, Found

Speech 'On Conciliation with America' 22 March 1775

I do ride contend against the advantages of distrust. In the world we live in, it is but too necessary. Some of old called it the very sinews of discretion.

World, Advantage, Distrust

Religion is for the man in humble life, and to raise his nature, and to put him in mind of a state in which the privileges of opulence will cease, when he will be equal by nature, and may be more than equal by virtue.

Humble, Men, Mind

Edmund Burke (1852). “The works and correspondence of...Edmund Burke”, p.231

For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever

Views, Excellence, Mankind

Edmund Burke (1824). “A Philosophical Inquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful”, p.102

Delusion and weakness produce not one mischief the less, because they are universal.

Weakness, Produce, Delusion

Edmund Burke (1852). “The Works and Correspondence of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke”, p.313

They made and recorded a sort of institute and digest of anarchy, called the rights of man.

Men, Rights, Anarchy

Edmund Burke, James BURKE (Barrister-at-Law.) (1854). “The Speeches of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, with Memoir and Historical Introductions. By James Burke”, p.430

It is by bribing, not so often by being bribed, that wicked politicians bring ruin on mankind. Avarice is a rival to the pursuits of many.

Wicked, Rivals, Ruins

Edmund Burke (1804). “Maxims and opinions, moral, political and economical, with characters, from the works of ... Edmund Burke”, p.15

The nature of things is, I admit, a sturdy adversary.

Sturdy, Adversaries

Edmund Burke (1839). “The Works of Edmund Burke ...”, p.474

The unbought grace of life, the cheap defence of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise, is gone!

Life, Nurse, Grace

'Reflections on the Revolution in France' (1790) p. 113

Futurity is the great concern of mankind.

Mankind, Concern

Edmund Burke (1852). “The Works and Correspondance of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke”, p.188

In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution of our country with our dearest domestic ties; adopting our fundamental laws into the bosom of our family affections; keeping inseparable and cherishing with the warmth of all their combined and mutually reflected charities, our state, our hearths, our sepulchres, and our altars.

Country, War, Blood

Edmund Burke (1790). “Reflections on the Revolution in France: And on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. In a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris”, p.49

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