These principles of the opposition are the only thing which preserves a single symptom of life in the nation.
Edmund Burke: “These principles of the opposition are the only thing which preserves a single symptom of life in the nation.”
Editor's note · Context
Burke claims that the principles of the opposition are vital for maintaining any semblance of life in the nation.
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But the king of Great Britain obeys no other person; all other persons are individually, and collectively too, under him, and owe to him a legal obedience.
Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.
Their objects would be enlarged with their elevation; but their disposition, and habits, and mode of accomplishing their designs must remain the same.
A few years ago I should be ashamed to overload a matter so capable of supporting itself by the then unnecessary support of any argument; but this seditious, unconstitutional doctrine is now publicly taught, avowed, and printed.





