Edmund Burke, (1729-1797) Irish-born British statesman, parliamentary orator, and political thinker Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-30] of 48 Edmund Burke quotesEdmund Burke QuotesEdmund Burke Next 30 quotes All men have equal rights, but not to equal things.~ Edmund Burke Among a people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist.~ Edmund Burke If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.~ Edmund Burke In a free country every man thinks he has a concern in all public matters,--that he has a right to form and a right to deliver an opinion on them. This it is that fills countries with men of ability in all stations.~ Edmund Burke Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.~ Edmund Burke People crushed by law have no hope but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous...~ Edmund Burke Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of your young peoples, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the next generation.~ Edmund Burke The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.~ Edmund Burke The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.~ Edmund Burke The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again; and a nation is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered.~ Edmund Burke There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men.~ Edmund Burke There never was a bad man that had ability for good service.~ Edmund Burke We must not always judge of the generality of the opinion by the noise of the acclamation.~ Edmund Burke When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.~ Edmund Burke Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.~ Edmund Burke No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.~ Edmund Burke It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do.~ Edmund Burke 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 Liberty, without wisdom, is license.~ Edmund Burke Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.~ Edmund Burke To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to deprecate the value of freedom itself.~ Edmund Burke He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.~ Edmund Burke All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.~ Edmund Burke I dread our own power and our own ambition; I dread our being too much dreaded. ... We may say that we shall not abuse this astonishing and hitherto unheard-of-power. But every other nation will think we shall abuse it. It is impossible but that, sooner or later, this state of things must produce a combination against us which may end in our ruin.~ Edmund Burke Power gradually extirpates for the mind every humane and gentle virtue.~ Edmund Burke Toleration is good for all, or it is good for none.~ Edmund Burke The people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion.~ Edmund Burke The age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists and calculators has succeeded.~ Edmund Burke Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.~ Edmund Burke Those who have been intoxicated with power... can never willingly abandon it.~ Edmund Burke Next 30 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print