Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: The cause of civil liberty and civil government gains as little as that of religion by this confusion of duties.

On the recordJanuary 1, 1790
The cause of civil liberty and civil government gains as little as that of religion by this confusion of duties.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

In his reflections on the French Revolution, Burke warns against the dangers of conflating distinct societal roles and responsibilities.

Share

More from Edmund Burke

Jan 1, 1790

Always acting as if in the presence of canonized forefathers, the spirit of freedom, leading in itself to misrule and excess, is tempered with an awful gravity.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1790

But an absurd theory on one side of a question forms no justification for alleging a false fact or promulgating mischievous maxims on the other.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1790

They have little regard to the obvious consequences of their doctrine, though they may see that it leaves positive authority in very few of the positive institutions of this country.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1790

They look upon the legal hereditary succession of their crown as among their rights, not as among their wrongs,--as a benefit, not as a grievance,--as a security for their liberty, not as a badge of servitude.

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation