Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: “It is in the power of government to prevent much evil; it can do very little positive good in this, or perhaps in…”

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It is in the power of government to prevent much evil; it can do very little positive good in this, or perhaps in anything else.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke reflects on the limited capacity of government to enact positive change, despite its ability to prevent harm.

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Jan 1, 1790

I would not exclude alteration neither; but even when I changed, it should be to preserve.

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I think our happy situation owing to our Constitution,--but owing to the whole of it, and not to any part singly,--owing in a great measure to what we have left standing in our several reviews and reformations, as well as to what we have…

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Jan 1, 1790

The improvements of the National Assembly are superficial, their errors fundamental.

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Jan 1, 1790

Whatever they are, I wish my countrymen rather to recommend to our neighbors the example of the British Constitution than to take models from them for the improvement of our own.

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