Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: “I feel an insuperable reluctance in giving my hand to destroy any established institution of government, upon a theory…”

On the record
I feel an insuperable reluctance in giving my hand to destroy any established institution of government, upon a theory, however plausible it may be.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke articulates his deep hesitation to dismantle established institutions based solely on theoretical arguments.

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Jan 1, 1790

I would not exclude alteration neither; but even when I changed, it should be to preserve.

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Jan 1, 1790

I think our happy situation owing to our Constitution,--but owing to the whole of it, and not to any part singly,--owing in a great measure to what we have left standing in our several reviews and reformations, as well as to what we have…

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Jan 1, 1790

But when the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service.

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Jan 1, 1790

Whatever they are, I wish my countrymen rather to recommend to our neighbors the example of the British Constitution than to take models from them for the improvement of our own.

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