A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Edmund Burke More Quotes by Edmund Burke More Quotes From Edmund Burke It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare. Edmund Burke grumblingerrorsliberty 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. Edmund Burke exercisenumberspeople But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint. Edmund Burke libertywisdomevil Politics ought to be adjusted not to human reasonings but to human nature, of which reason is but a part and by no means the greatest part. Edmund Burke human-naturereasonmean An event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak, and impossible to be silent. Edmund Burke scandalstatisticsevents Silence is golden but when it threatens your freedom it's yellow. Edmund Burke goldensilenceyellow That the greatest security of the people, against the encroachments and usurpations of their superiors, is to keep the Spirit of Liberty constantly awake, is an undeniable truth Edmund Burke libertyspiritpeople Because half a dozen grasshoppers under a fern make the field ring with their importunate chink, whilst thousands of great cattle, reposed beneath the shadow of the British oak, chew the cud and are silent, pray, to not imagine that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field; that, of course, they are many in number; or that, after all, they are other than the little, shriveled, meagre, hopping, though loud and troublesome insects of the hour. Edmund Burke shadowimaginationnumbers By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation. Edmund Burke perseverancemayinspirational Circumspection and caution are part of wisdom. Edmund Burke circumspectioncautionlife I am convinced that we have a degree of delight, and that no small one, in the real misfortunes and pain of others Edmund Burke degreespainreal All the forces of darkness need to succeed ... is for the people to do nothing. Edmund Burke succeeddarknesspeople The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse. Edmund Burke bullyingfreedomwork And having looked to Government for bread, on the very first scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them. Edmund Burke government-welfarescarcityhands Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation. Edmund Burke inspirationallifeart Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe. Edmund Burke libertyfreedomjustice 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 equalitywisdomlaw You will smile here at the consistency of those democratists who, when they are not on their guard, treat the humbler part of the community with the greatest contempt, whilst, at the same time they pretend to make them the depositories of all power. Edmund Burke consistencytreatscommunity The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from an over-sensibilit y for ourselves and an over-indulgence to our own desires Edmund Burke wantdesirefeelings Adversity is a severe instructor, set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves, as he loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This conflict with difficulty makes us acquainted with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial. Edmund Burke adversityskillschallenges
