Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: In common affairs and common life, virtuous sentiments are not even the character of virtuous men; we cannot bear these…

On the record
In common affairs and common life, virtuous sentiments are not even the character of virtuous men; we cannot bear these sentiments, but when they are pressed out, as it were, by great exigencies, and a certain contention which is above the general style of comedy....
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Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke argues that virtuous sentiments are not typical in everyday life and emerge only under significant pressure.

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