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

More information about this quote

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

Occupation

Philosopher Politician Writer

From

Ireland Europe

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.

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A quote by Edmund Burke about the good old days: “To complain of the age we live in, to murmur at the present possessors…”
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A quote by Edmund Burke about the good old days: “To complain of the age we live in, to murmur at the present possessors…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote 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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More information about this quote
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.

Another quote from the 1770s

I agree with you, that in Politicks the Middle Way is none at all.

John Adams

More information about this quote
Topic
The political center Political ideology Politics

Author

John Adams
Source
Letters of John Adams
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1776 1770s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Adams, John. Letter to Horatio Gates. 23 Mar. 1776.

Current Citation

“From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 23 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-04-02-0023.

Another quote about Human nature

All men by nature desire to know.

Aristotle

Metaphysics

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More information about this quote
Topic
Curiosity Knowledge Human nature

Author

Aristotle
Source
Metaphysics
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. τὰ μετὰ τὰ φυσικά [Those after the physics]. c. 322 BC, bk. 1.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Metaphysics, translated by Hugh Lawson-Tancred. Penguin Classics, 1999, book alpha.

Another quote from Age of Enlightenment

Where-ever Law ends, Tyranny begins.

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

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More information about this quote
Topic
Rule of law Law Tyranny Political theory Politics

Author

John Locke
Source
Second Treatise of Civil Government Two Treatises of Government
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1690 1690s 17th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Locke, John. "Second Treatise of Civil Government." Two Treatises of Government. London: Awnsham Churchill, 1690, ch. 18, sect. 202.

Current Citation

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Civil Government, edited by C. B. Macpherson. Hackett Publishing Company, 1980, ch. 18, sect. 202.