Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: Why, that many plans, which, when considered in the closet, look specious and plausible, will not hold when they come to…

On the record
Why, that many plans, which, when considered in the closet, look specious and plausible, will not hold when they come to be tried in practice, and that this plan was one of them.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke reflects on the gap between theoretical plans and their practical outcomes.

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