Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke, (1729-1797) Irish-born British statesman, parliamentary orator, and political thinker

Famous Edmund Burke Quote

“The people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion.”

Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke
~ Edmund Burke

Speech at a County Meeting at Bucks

Ratings and Comments


Logan, Memphis, TN

I give five stars based on what Burke meant to say by this. In reality, liberty, if it is inalienable, can never be given up. The expression of liberty can be limited, but liberty is as absolute and eternal as a thing can possibly be. Either there are inalienable rights, or there aren't.

Robert, Sarasota

Indeed, indeed - its the meaning that matters

Anonymous, Reston, VA US

And yesterday's GOP has created many delusions for the people to use as an excuse to give up their liberties... now the real question is if the Dems will fix this now...

Joe, Rochester, MI

Democrats will do nothing to fix government, any more than the GOP did. Only Libertarians are interested in reducing government and taxes, in fixing things. You are delusional if you voted for democrats because you hope things will improve.

E Archer, NYC

The delusion rests on both sides of the aisle -- to get something for nothing.

Jack, Green, OH

Yeah, like give up some liberty because we are in a fantasy war waiting for some hypothetical terrorists to come crashing down on us. Giving up freedoms will not prevent them. There is, indeed, that possibilitiy, but cowering behind a false hope of security will not make it go away. That is giving into their desire to handicap, or hinder us. Would giving up freedoms in 1940 or '41 have prevented the Japanese attack on Pearl? Defense is one thing. Denying basic freedoms thru delusion is another. The way to greater security would be to go after the chief terrorist/s like bin Laden instead of wasting our time and resources in a country which never had any terrorists before we invited them in.

John Anderson, Tacoma

You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free.

Mike, Norwalk

The occupying statist theocracy that infests this land has right (fascists, neocons, conservatives, etc.) and left (communists, progressives, liberals, etc.) camps of applied socialism to make obscure any reality outside their delusion. Liberty's thread is an almost unrecognizable element within the right's, left's or otherwise statist theocracy's tapestry of delusion; that being applied despotism and tyranny. The delusions of security, Keynesian economics, theocratic socialism, and 'I'm here to help you' are among liberty's great detractors (inhibiting or eliminating liberty and freedom's expressions)

jim k, Austin, Tx

Reston, you must be joking. How in the hell are the democrats going to "fix" anything, they are partners in the scam.

J Carlton, Calgary

Go Libertarian, Go Constitution and preserve your rights. All others go directly to jail.

GunnyCee, Durham

Reston must be deluded. He's half-right about the RINO's in the past who kept the whole government-can-fix-your-problems attitude, but the Dems have that attitude with a strong dose of steroids. They aren't going to "fix" anything, if fact what they are doing is making it much worse. All you deluded libs out there, what you saw happen in New York with this last special election is the precursor for what is about to happen in the whole country in 2012! What conservatives call liberty, libs call it cold-heartedness. What conservatives call freedom, libs call ut anarchy. Clearly libs are deluded.

Kimo, USA
  • Reply
Kimo, USA    9/14/11

Gunny KNOWS, what may be coming, as many do. The words "give us liberty, or give us death' have taken on a VERY real and present danger. And YES, we do have people in our government, who are against the American way, and , we know who they are. Never met a liberal yet, who has felt a 7.6 fly past him.......The ONLY thing, that has stopped them, from taking total control, is the second amendment, and the large amount of patriotic LEO s, and the marines, and the better part of our Army, who will not turn thier weapons on Americans. I hope ur wrong about 2012 gunny, but all the same, we prepare.

Hannah, Portland

This quote is what it is all about! Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Let's not forget that because of he said she said. Vote Obama OUT of the White House it is all around us, it is the right thing to do, you can see it in Romney's eyes, he's scared for what is going to happen if Obama is re-elected. ROMNEY/RYAN 2012 the only chance we have!

Jim k, Austin

Anonymous, congratulations for being able to count to 7.

Ronw13, Yachats Or

( Delusion, Planao, from the Greek,( doctrines and morals are never divided by any sharp line ), mental straying, errors in morals.) With that being said, ( Planos, an imposter of the vagabond type. Definite article necessitates the translation " the deceiver " ) Now here in 2015, the implications are undeniably, " in your face so-to-speak ". There undoubtedly are facts to bear out. The falling away first, at present, strong ( delusions, from the Hebrew, of past foretelling, (Taaluwl, caprice as a fit coming on ) concerning a tyrant-babe. More to point, at present ( Planos, the present participle is used with the definite article, as a title of the Devil, " the deceiver ". Rev 12:9. Which sets the stage ! " Liberty exist with wholesome restraint " Daniel Webster. Such a great proponent of Liberty Edmund Burke, " The Sovereign Authority of this country ( USA ) as the Sanctuary of Liberty, the Sacred Temple consecrated to our Common Faith" as for the protestants founding our nation, " a persuasion not only favorable to Liberty, but Built upon it ! "
Semper FI

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