Edmund Burke

Explore 44 quotes by Edmund Burke

A state without some means of change is without the means of its own conservation.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Seeds of revolution Revolution Political gridlock Politics French Revolution

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Make the Revolution a parent of settlement, and not a nursery of future revolutions.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Revolution French Revolution

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Relinquishing freedom Freedom

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech at County Meeting of Buckinghamshire

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1784 1780s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech at a County Meeting of Buckinghamshire." 1784, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.

Parties must ever exist in a free country.

On Conciliation with America

More information about this quote

Topic

Political parties Partisan politics Politics Democracy

Speaker

Edmund Burke

Source

On Conciliation with America

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1775 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with America." House of Commons. 22 Mar. 1775, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.

On Conciliation with America

More information about this quote

Topic

Compromise

Speaker

Edmund Burke

Source

On Conciliation with America

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1775 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with America." House of Commons. 22 Mar. 1775, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Old religious factions are volcanoes burnt out.

Edmund Burke

Speech on the Petition of the Unitarians, May 11, 1792

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Topic

Sectarianism Religion

Speaker

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech on the Petition of the Unitarians, May 11, 1792

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1792 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Address on Petition of the Unitarians. House of Commons. 11 May 1792, Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on the Petition of the Unitarian Society." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin Classics, 1999.

We have a degree of delight, and that no small one, in the real misfortunes and pains of others.

Edmund Burke

Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful

More information about this quote

Topic

Schadenfreude

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1757 1750s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. London: R and J. Dodsley, 1757, pt. 1, sec. 14.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009, pt. 1, sec. 14.

Because half a dozen grasshoppers under a fern make the field ring with their importunate chink, whilst thousands of great cattle, reposed beneath the shadow of the British oak, chew the cud and are silent, pray do not imagine, that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Political agitation

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.

On Conciliation with America

More information about this quote

Topic

Political compromise Political theory

Speaker

Edmund Burke

Source

On Conciliation with America

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1775 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with America." House of Commons. 22 Mar. 1775, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

By hating vices too much, they come to love men too little.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Moralism Morality Misanthropy

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Superstition is the religion of feeble minds.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Superstition

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Individuals pass like shadows; but the commonwealth is fixed and stable.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

The United Kingdom Ephemeral nature of life Impermanence

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech on Presenting to the House of Commons a Plan for the Better Security of the Independence of Parliament and the Economical Reformation of the Civil and Other Establishments

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1780 1780s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Presenting to the House of Commons a Plan for the Better Security of the Independence of Parliament and the Economical Reformation of the Civil and Other Establishments." 11 Feb. 1780, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Economical Reform." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

School of hard knocks Learning from mistakes

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Letters of Edmund Burke

Medium

Open letter Letter

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1796 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Two Letters to a Member of the Present Parliament, on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France. London: F. and C. Rivington, 1796, letter 1.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. Letters on a Regicide Peace." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009, letter 1.

It is said, that twenty-four millions ought to prevail over two hundred thousand. True, if the constitution of a kingdom be a problem of arithmetic.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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More information about this quote

Topic

French Revolution

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

The age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists, and calculators, has succeeded; and the glory of Europe is extinguished for ever.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Chivalry is dead Age of chivalry Disenchanted world Alienation Europe

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Learning from the past Ignorance of history History

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. London: James Dodsley, 1790.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Reflections on the Revolution in France." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Among a people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Decline of democracy Democracy Freedom Moral decline Morality

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Letters of Edmund Burke

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1777 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. A Letter to John Farr and John Harris, Esqs., Sheriffs of the City of Bristol, on the Affairs of America. London: J. Dodsley, 3 Apr. 1777.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "A Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol on the Affairs of America." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Custom reconciles us to everything.

Edmund Burke

Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful

More information about this quote

Topic

Custom and convention

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1757 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. London: R and J. Dodsley, 1757, pt. 4, sect. 18.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Philosophical Enquiry in the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009, pt. 4, sect. 18.

We set ourselves to bite the hand that feeds us.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Political agitation

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents. London: J. Dodsley, 1770.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Thoughts on the Present Discontents." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

It is a general popular error to imagine the loudest complainers for the public, to be the most anxious for its welfare.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Demagogues

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Observations on a Late State of the Nation

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1769 1760s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Burke, Edmund. Observations on a Late State of the Nation. London: J. Dodsley, 1769.