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Edmund Burke Quotes - Page 18

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The science of constructing a commonwealth, or renovating it, or reforming it, is, like every other experimental science, not to be taught a priori. Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us in that practical

The science of constructing a commonwealth, or renovating it, or reforming it, is, like every other experimental science, not to be taught a priori. Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us in that practical science, because the real effects of moral causes are not always immediate.

Real, Practice, Political

Edmund Burke (1811). “Maxims and opinions, moral, political and economical, with characters, from the works of ... Edmund Burke”, p.80

Society is indeed a contract. Subordinate contracts for objects of mere occasional interest may be dissolved at pleasure - but the state ought not to be considered as nothing better than a partnership agreement in a trade of pepper and coffee, calico, or tobacco, or some other such low concern, to be taken up for a little temporary interest, and to be dissolved by the fancy of the parties. It is to be looked on with other reverence, because it is not a partnership in things subservient only to the gross animal existence of a temporary and perishable nature.

Coffee, Taken, Party

Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.1455, Delphi Classics

The men of England,- the men, I mean, of light and leading in England.

Leadership, Mean, Men

Edmund Burke (2010). “On Taste on the Sublime and Beautiful, Reflections on the Revolution, A Letter to a Noble Lord”, p.249, Cosimo, Inc.

It has all the contortions of the sibyl without the inspiration.

Inspiration

"Life of Burke". Book by Matthew Prior,

A man is allowed sufficient freedom of thought, provided he knows how to choose his subject properly.... But the scene is changed as you come homeward, and atheism or treason may be the names given in Britain to what would be reason and truth if asserted in China.

Men, Names, Atheism

Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.46, Delphi Classics

Magnificence is likewise a source of the sublime. A great profusion of things which are splendid or valuable in themselves is magnificent. The starry heaven, though it occurs so very frequently to our view, never fails to excite an idea of grandeur.

Stars, Views, Ideas

Edmund Burke (1824). “A Philosophical Inquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful”, p.78

Contempt is not a thing to be despised.

Contempt, Despised

Edmund Burke (1855). “The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke: Charge against Warren Hastings concluded. Political letters”, p.299

To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.

Love, Wise, Business

Speech on American Taxation, 19 Apr. 1774

The worthy gentleman who has been snatched from us at the moment of the election, and in the middle of the contest, whilst his desires were as warm and his hopes as eager as ours, has feelingly told us what shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue.

Hope, Gentleman, Shadow

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.169

I take toleration to be a part of religion. I do not know which I would sacrifice; I would keep them both: it is not necessary that I should sacrifice either.

Sacrifice, Should, Knows

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.389

It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals that their maxims have a plausible air; and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin; and about as valuable.

Light, Air, Views

Edmund Burke (1963). “Edmund Burke: Selected Writings and Speeches”, p.171, Transaction Publishers

It ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention.

Communication, Wish, Attention

Edmund Burke (2013). “A Letter to a Noble Lord and Other Writings”, p.221, Cambridge University Press

I do not know the method of drawing up an indictment against a whole people.

Drawing, People, Method

"On Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies," 22 Mar. 1775

The power of perpetuating our property in our families is one of the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging to it, and that which tends the most to the perpetuation of society itself.

Wisdom, Interesting, Politics

Edmund Burke (2014). “Revolutionary Writings: Reflections on the Revolution in France and the First Letter on a Regicide Peace”, p.52, Cambridge University Press

I decline the election. It has ever been my rule through life, to observe a proportion between my efforts and my objects. I have never been remarkable for a bold, active, and sanguine pursuit of advantages that are personal to myself.

Effort, Election, Proportion

Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.2600, Delphi Classics

It is the love of the people; it is their attachment to their government, from the sense of the deep stake they have in such a glorious institution, which gives you your army 168 and your navy, and infuses into both that liberal obedience, without which your army would be a base rabble, and your navy nothing but rotten timber.

Army, Attachment, Government

Speech 'On Conciliation with America' 22 March 1775

Is it in destroying and pulling down that skill is displayed? The shallowest understanding, the rudest hand, is more than equal to that task.

Hands, Skills, Understanding

Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.1511, Delphi Classics

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.

Practice, Evil, May

Edmund Burke (1852). “The Works and Correspondance of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke”, p.449

True humility-the basis of the Christian system-is the low but deep and firm foundation of all virtues.

Christian, Humility, Foundation

Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.3683, Delphi Classics

A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.

Despair, Duty

Edmund Burke, Harvey C. Mansfield (1984). “Selected Letters of Edmund Burke”, p.188, University of Chicago Press

Jacobinism is the revolt of the enterprising talents of a country against its property.

Country, Talent, Revolt

Edmund Burke (1804). “Maxims and opinions, moral, political and economical, with characters, from the works of ... Edmund Burke”, p.158

Water and oil, simply considered, are capable of giving some pleasure to the taste. Water, when simple, is insipid, inodorous, colorless, and smooth; it is found, when not cold, to be a great resolver of spasms, and lubricator of the fibres; this power it probably owes to its smoothness.

Water, Smooth, Colorless

"Complete Works of Edmund Burke".

A definition may be very exact, and yet go but a very little way towards informing us of the nature of the thing defined.

May, Definitions, Littles

Edmund Burke (1839). “The Works of Edmund Burke”, p.58

Neither the few nor the many have a right to act merely by their will, in any matter connected with duty, trust, engagement, or obligation.

Matter, Engagement, Duty

Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.1640, Delphi Classics

Old religious factions are volcanoes burnt out.

Religious, Volcanoes, Factions

Speech on Petition of the Unitarians, 11 May 1792

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