Source: Burke, Select Works
Filter quotes by topic
Famous Edmund Burke Quotes
“Among a people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist.”
“Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.”
Source: The Portable Edmund Burke
Source: Reflections on the Revolution in France: And on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. In a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris
“We must all obey the great law of change. It is the most powerful law of nature.”
Source: Edmund Burke: Selected Writings and Speeches
“The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.”
Source: On Taste, on the Sublime and Beautiful, Reflections on the French Revolution & a Letter to a Noble Lord
Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke
“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)
Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke
“Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.”
“Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.”
Source: Reflections on the Revolution in France: And on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. In a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris
“To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.”
Source: Works: 1st American from the Last London Ed
“Nothing turns out to be so oppressive and unjust as a feeble government.”
Source: Reflections on the French Revolution
“One that confounds good and evil is an enemy to good.”
Source: Celebrated Speeches of Chatham, Burke, and Erskine: To which is Added the Arguement of Mr. Mackintosh in the Case of Peltier
“Poetry is the art of substantiating shadows, and of lending existence to nothing.”
Source: Memoir of the Life and Character of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke: With Specimens of His Poetry and Letters and an Estimate of His Genius and Talents, Compared with Those of His Great Contemporaries. Enlarged to Two Volumes
“Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.”
“The most important of all revolutions, a revolution in sentiments, manners and moral opinions.”
Source: Reflections on the Revolution in France: And on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. In a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris
“Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.”
“It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.”
Source: Selected Letters of Edmund Burke
“Nothing is so fatal to religion as indifference.”
Source: The works and correspondence of...Edmund Burke
“The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.”
Source: Selected Letters of Edmund Burke
“Beauty in distress is much the most affecting beauty.”
Source: The works of ... Edmund Burke [ed. by W. King and F. Laurence].
“Frugality is founded on the principal that all riches have limits.”
Source: The Works of Edmund Burke ...
“People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.”
Source: The Beauties of the Late Right Hon. Edmund Burke: Selected from the Writings, &c. of that Extraordinary Man, Alphabetically Arranged ... to which is Prefixed, a Sketch of the Life, with Some Original Anecdotes of Mr. Burke
“A State without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.”
“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.”
“Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety.”
“The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny.”
Source: A Memoir of the Political Life of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke: With Extracts from His Writings
“Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones.”
“I venture to say no war can be long carried on against the will of the people.”
Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke: Charge against Warren Hastings concluded
Source: The Works and Correspondance of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke