Edmund Burke

Explore 44 quotes by Edmund Burke

Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together.

On Conciliation with America

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Topic

Political strategy Politics

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.

No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.

Edmund Burke

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

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Topic

Effects of fear Fear

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. 2, sect. 2.

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. 2, sect. 2.

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Representative democracy Political theory Democracy Politicians Politics

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech to the Electors of Bristol

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1774 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech to the Electors of Bristol," 3 Nov. 1774, Bristol, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech at the Conclusion of the Poll at Bristol (3 November 1774)." Reflections on the Revolution in France and Other Writings. Alfred A. Knopf, 2015.

Whatever each man can separately do, without trespassing upon others, he has a right to do for himself; and he has a right to a fair portion of all which society, with all its combinations of skill and force, can do in his favor.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Freedom Human rights Political theory Politics

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.

To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affection. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed towards a love to our country and to mankind.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political theory

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.

It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.

Edmund Burke

Read this letter at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Restraint Self-control

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Letters of Edmund Burke

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1791 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. Letter to a Member of the National Assembly. London: J. Dodsley, 1791.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. Letter to a Member of the National Assembly." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Laws, like houses, lean on one another.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Law

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

A Tract on the Popery Laws

Genre

Political literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1760 1760s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. A Tract on the Popery Laws. c. 1760, ch. 3, pt. 1.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Tract on the Popery Laws." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009, ch. 3, pt. 1.

Nothing in progression can rest on its original plan. We may as well think of rocking a grown man in the cradle of an infant.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Progress The only constant is change

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.

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.

On Conciliation with America

More information about this quote

Topic

Use of force Civil unrest Political theory Politics

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.

To complain of the age we live in, to murmur at the present possessors of power, to lament the past, to conceive extravagant hopes of the future, are the common dispositions of the greatest part of mankind.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

The good old days Human nature

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontent

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

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.

We must soften into a credulity below the milkiness of infancy, to think all men virtuous. We must be tainted with a malignity truly diabolical, to believe all the world to be equally wicked and corrupt.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Human nature Original sin Virtue Perspective

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontent

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

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.

Manners are of more importance than laws... Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in. They give their whole form and color to our lives.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Manners Custom and convention

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Two Letters to a Member of the Present Parliament, on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France

Medium

Open letter Letter

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1796 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

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.

The law touches us but here and there, and now and then. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Custom and convention Law

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Two Letters to a Member of the Present Parliament, on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France

Medium

Open letter Letter

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.

There is but one law for all, namely, that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice, equity, — the Law of Nature and of Nations.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Natural law Law Moral universalism Moral theory Morality

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech in General Reply; First Day: Wednesday May 28, 1794.

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1794 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech in General Reply; First Day: Wednesday, May 28, 1794." Speeches in the Impeachment of Warren Hastings, Esquire. 28 May 1794, Westminster Hall, Westminster, London, UK.

Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.

Edmund Burke

Speech at the Bristol Guildhall, September 6, 1780

More information about this quote

Topic

Law Legal theory Tyranny

Speaker

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech at the Bristol Guildhall, September 6, 1780

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1780 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Burke, Edmund. Speech in the Bristol Guildhall. 6 Sept. 1780, Bristol Guildhall, Bristol, England, UK.

Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Men have a right that these wants should be provided for by this wisdom.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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Topic

Purpose of government Government

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 greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.

Edmund Burke

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Topic

Abuse of power Power

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Speech on the Middlesex Election

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1771 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on the Middlesex Election," House of Commons, 7 Feb. 1771, House of Commons, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on the Middlesex Elections." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Liberty, too, must be limited in order to be possessed.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Political theory Freedom Politics

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.

He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

Edmund Burke

Reflections on the Revolution in France

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More information about this quote

Topic

Benefits of adversity

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.

Ambition can creep as well as soar.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Ambition

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Letters of Edmund Burke

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1797 1790s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. A Third Letter to a Member of the Present Parliament, on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France. London: F. and C. Rivington, 1797.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. Letters on a Regicide Peace." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009, letter 3.