To drive men from independence to live on alms, is itself great cruelty. Edmund Burke More Quotes by Edmund Burke More Quotes From Edmund Burke Beauty in distress is much the most affecting beauty. Edmund Burke distress beauty We are in a war of a peculiar nature. It is not with an ordinary community, which is hostile or friendly as passion or as interest may veer about: not with a state which makes war through wantonness, and abandons it through lassitude. We are at war with a system, which by its essence, is inimical to all other governments, and which makes peace or war, as peace and war may best contribute to their subversion. It is with an armed doctrine that we are at war. It has, by its essence, a faction of opinion, and of interest, and of enthusiasm, in every country. Edmund Burke passion war country The nature of things is, I admit, a sturdy adversary. Edmund Burke adversaries sturdy As the rose-tree is composed of the sweetest flowers and the sharpest thorns, as the heavens are sometimes overcast—alternately tempestuous and serene—so is the life of man intermingled with hopes and fears, with joys and sorrows, with pleasure and pain. Edmund Burke pain flower inspirational Where two motives, neither of them perfectly justifiable, may be assigned, the worst has the chance of being preferred. Edmund Burke political may two For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever Edmund Burke mankind excellence views Liberty does not exist in the absence of morality. Edmund Burke morality liberty doe Not men but measures a sort of charm by which many people get loose from every honorable engagement. Edmund Burke sweet men people The men of England,- the men, I mean, of light and leading in England. Edmund Burke leadership men mean Restraint and discipline and examples of virtue and justice. These are the things that form the education of the world. Edmund Burke discipline example justice There ought to be system of manners in every nation which a well-formed mind would be disposed to relish. To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely. Edmund Burke lovely mind country A people who are still, as it were, but in the gristle, and not yet hardened into the bone of manhood. Edmund Burke bones america people I do not know the method of drawing up an indictment against a whole people. Edmund Burke method drawing people To give freedom is still more easy. It is not necessary to guide; it only requires to let go the rein. But to form a free government; that is, to temper together these opposite elements of liberty and restraint in one work, requires much thought, deep reflection, a sagacious, powerful, and combining mind. Edmund Burke powerful reflection letting-go Contempt is not a thing to be despised. Edmund Burke despised contempt I cannot stand forward, and give praise or blame to any thing which relates to human actions, and human concerns, on a simple view of the subject as it stands stripped of every relation, in all the nakedness and solitude of metaphysical abstraction. Circumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour, and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind. Edmund Burke simple views reality Education is a nation's cheapest defence Edmund Burke defence nations historical The grand instructor, time. Edmund Burke instructors wisdom wise In on summer they have done their business... they have completely pulled down to the ground their monarchy, their church, their nobility, their law, their revenue, their army, their navy, their commerce, their arts, and their manufactures... destroyed all balances and counterpoises which serve to fix a state and give it steady direction, and then they melted down the whole into one incongrous mass of mob and democracy... the people, along with their political servitude, have thrown off the yoke of law and morals. Edmund Burke army summer art In their nomination to office they will not appoint to the exercise of authority as to a pitiful job, but as to a holy function. Edmund Burke office exercise jobs
