Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: But no name, no power, no function, no artificial institution whatsoever, can make the men, of whom any system of…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1790
But no name, no power, no function, no artificial institution whatsoever, can make the men, of whom any system of authority is composed, any other than God, and Nature, and education, and their habits of life have made them.
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Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

In his critique of the French National Assembly, Burke argues that no institutional structure can fundamentally alter the character of the individuals who compose it.

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They look on the frame of their commonwealth, such as it stands, to be of inestimable value; and they conceive the undisturbed succession of the crown to be a pledge of the stability and perpetuity of all the other members of our…

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As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.

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