Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: A king without authority; nobles without union or subordination; a people without arts, industry, commerce, or liberty…

On the record
A king without authority; nobles without union or subordination; a people without arts, industry, commerce, or liberty; no order within, no defence without; no effective public force, but a foreign force, which entered, a naked country at will, and disposed of everything at pleasure.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke describes the disarray in Poland, highlighting the lack of authority and order.

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Jan 1, 1790

It therefore secures both an hereditary crown and an hereditary allegiance.

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Who could flatter himself that these men, suddenly, and as it were by enchantment, snatched from the humblest rank of subordination, would not be intoxicated with their unprepared greatness?

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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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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.

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