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

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.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Edmund Burke about human nature: “We must soften into a credulity below the milkiness of infancy, to think all…”
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A quote by Edmund Burke about human nature: “We must soften into a credulity below the milkiness of infancy, to think all…”
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A quote by Edmund Burke about human nature: “We must soften into a credulity below the milkiness of infancy, to think all…”
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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

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.

Another quote from the 1770s

That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

Richard Henry Lee

Lee Resolution

More information about this quote
Topic
American Revolution

Author

Richard Henry Lee
Source
Lee Resolution
Language
English
Time
1776 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Lee, Richard Henry. Lee Resolution. 2 July 1776.

Another quote about Human nature

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasions for it.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Discourses on Livy

More information about this quote
Topic
Political theory Government Human nature

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli
Source
Discourses on Livy
Genre
Political literature Philosophical literature
Language
Italian
Time
1531 1530s 16th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio [Discourses on the First Ten of Titus Livy]. Papal Privilege, 1531, bk. 1, ch. 3

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolo. Discourses on Livy, translated by Julia Conaway Bondanella and Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Another quote from Age of Enlightenment

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Benjamin Franklin

Read this essay at the National Archives website
More information about this quote
Topic
Civil liberties Freedom

Author

Benjamin Franklin
Source
Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1755 1750s 18th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor." 11 Nov. 1755. Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1755-1756. Philadelphia, 1756, pp. 19-21.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 11 Nov. 1755." Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-06-02-0107