On the recordJanuary 1, 1790
It is not in Nature, that, situated as the king of the French now is, he can respect himself or can be respected by others.
Said by
Edmund Burke
Source
gutenberg.orgIt is not in Nature, that, situated as the king of the French now is, he can respect himself or can be respected by others.
From his critique of the French Revolution, Burke argues that the king's degraded position makes self-respect and public respect impossible.
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Let us imitate their caution, if we wish to deserve their fortune or to retain their bequests.
Our people will find employment enough for a truly patriotic, free, and independent spirit, in guarding what they possess from violation.
They come from one who has been no tool of power, no flatterer of greatness, and who in his last acts does not wish to belie the tenor of his life.
I would not exclude alteration neither; but even when I changed, it should be to preserve.