Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: History records many things which ought to make us hate evil actions; but neither history, nor morals, nor policy can…

On the record
History records many things which ought to make us hate evil actions; but neither history, nor morals, nor policy can teach us to punish innocent men on that account.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke argues that history teaches us to condemn evil actions but not to punish the innocent for them.

Share

More from Edmund Burke

Jan 1, 1790

If all the absurd theories of lawyers and divines were to vitiate the objects in which they are conversant, we should have no law and no religion left in the world.

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 on the frame of their commonwealth, such as it stands, to be of inestimable value; and they conceive the undisturbed succession of the crown to be a pledge of the stability and perpetuity of all the other members of our…

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation