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Edmund Burke Quotes

Statesman

Edmund Burke, a British statesman and writer, was born on January 12, 1729, and died on July 9, 1797. He was one of the most prominent political thinkers of the 18th century, known for his profound insights into liberty, democracy, and conservatism.

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All Men Mind Virtue May People Liberty Politics Government Ought Political

Famous Edmund Burke Quotes

“If any ask me what a free government is, I answer, that, for any practical purpose, it is what the people think so,and that they, and not I, are the natural, lawful, and competent judges of this matter.”

People Ifs Thinking Matter Government Purpose Asks Natural Answers Judging Practicals Ask Me Competent Natural Law Free Government

Book:The Works and Correspondence of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

Source: The Works and Correspondence of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

“What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the fitness of your man; and then you must retain some hold upon him by personal obligation or dependence.”

Men Firsts Mean Real Purpose Answers Knowing Election Obligation Dependence

Book:Reflections on the French Revolution

Source: Reflections on the French Revolution

“I cannot conceive how any man can have brought himself to that pitch of presumption, to consider his country as nothing but carte blanche, upon which he may scribble whatever he pleases.”

Men May Country Please Presumption Scribbles Blanche

Book:Reflections on the Revolution in France

Source: Reflections on the Revolution in France

“In a democracy the majority of citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority...and that oppression of the majority will extend to far great number, and will be carried on with much greater fury, than can almost ever be apprehended from the dominion of a single sceptre. Under a cruel prince they have the plaudits of the people to animate their generous constancy under their sufferings; but those who are subjected to wrong under multitudes are deprived of all external consolation: they seem deserted by mankind, overpowered by a conspiracy of their whole species.”

“It looks to me to be narrow and pedantic to apply the ordinary ideas of criminal justice to this great public contest. I do not know the method of drawing up an indictment against a whole people.”

People Knows Looks Ideas Whole Justice Ordinary Method Criminals Drawing Contests Criminal Justice Indictment Pedantic

Book:Edmund Burke: Selected Writings and Speeches

Source: Edmund Burke: Selected Writings and Speeches

“Among precautions against ambition, it may not be amiss to take precautions against our own. I must fairly say, I dread our own power and our own ambition: I dread our being too much dreaded.”

May Power Too Much Ambition Dread Precaution

Book:The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

“I am not one of those who think that the people are never in the wrong. They have been so, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries and in this. But I do say that in all disputes between them and their rulers, the presumption is at least upon a par in favour of the people.”

People Thinking Has Beens Country Political Politics Rulers Other Countries Favour Disputes Presumption

Author:Edmund Burke

“It is undoubtedly the business of ministers very much to consult the inclinations of the people, but they ought to take great care that they do not receive that inclination from the few persons who may happen to approach them.”

People May Persons Happens Care Ought Approach Ministers Inclination

Book:The Beauties of Burke, Consisting of Selections from His Works

Source: The Beauties of Burke, Consisting of Selections from His Works

“But a good patriot, and a true politician, always considers how he shall make the most of the existing materials of his country. A disposition, to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Everything else is vulgar in the conception, perilous in the execution.”

Country Would Be Together Ability Taken Materials Politician Standards Preserves Conception Execution Patriot Disposition Vulgar Statesmen

Book:The Works and Correspondance of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

Source: The Works and Correspondance of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

“Politics and the pulpit are terms that have little agreement. No sound ought to be heard in the church but the healing voice of Christian charity. The cause of civil liberty and civil government gains as little as that of religion by this confusion of duties. Those who quit their proper character to assume what does not belong to them are, for the greater part, ignorant both of the character they leave and of the character they assume.”

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)

“It is from this absolute indifference and tranquillity of the mind, that mathematical speculations derive some of the most considerable advantages; because there is nothing to interest the imagination; because the judgment sits free and unbiased to examine the point. All proportions, every arrangement of quantity, is alike to the understanding, because the same truths result to it from all; from greater from lesser, from equality and inequality.”

“The objects of a financier are, then, to secure an ample revenue; to impose it with judgment and equality; to employ it economically; and, when necessity obliges him to make use of credit, to secure its foundations in that instance, and for ever, by the clearness and candor of his proceedings, the exactness of his calculations, and the solidity of his funds.”

Use Money Objects Judgment Foundation Credit Instance Secure Fund Revenue Calculations Proceeding Candor Financiers Solidity Clearness Exactness

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)

“Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests; which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; but parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole; where, not local purposes, not local prejudices ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member indeed; but when you have chosen him, he is not a member of Bristol, but he is a member of parliament.”

Source: The Portable Edmund Burke

“My good friends, while I do most earnestly recommend you to take care of your health and safety, as things most precious to us, I would not have that care degenerate into an effeminate and over-curious attention, which is always disgraceful to a man's self, and often troublesome to others.”

Men Self Care Attention Balance Safety Take Care Curious Good Friend Moderation Degenerates Troublesome Disgraceful Health And Safety Take Care Of Your Health

Book:The works and correspondence of...Edmund Burke

Source: The works and correspondence of...Edmund Burke