Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: We claim, that, as our own government and every person exercising authority in Great Britain is bound by the laws of…

On the record
We claim, that, as our own government and every person exercising authority in Great Britain is bound by the laws of Great Britain, so every person exercising authority in another country shall be subject to the laws of that country; since otherwise they break the very covenant by which we hold our power there.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke asserts that all authorities must adhere to the laws of the land they govern, highlighting the principle of legal accountability.

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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…

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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.

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The speculative line of demarcation, where obedience ought to end and resistance must begin, is faint, obscure, and not easily definable.

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