Mystery, in any matter of policy, affords presumption of fraud, xii. 79.
Edmund Burke: “Mystery, in any matter of policy, affords presumption of fraud, xii. 79.”
Editor's note · Context
Burke warns that a lack of transparency in policy matters often indicates potential deceit.
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By adhering in this manner and on those principles to our forefathers, we are guided, not by the superstition of antiquarians, but by the spirit of philosophic analogy.
Who could doubt but that, at any expense to the state, of which they understood nothing, they must pursue their private interests, which they understood but too well?
But the king of Great Britain obeys no other person; all other persons are individually, and collectively too, under him, and owe to him a legal obedience.
A few years ago I should be ashamed to overload a matter so capable of supporting itself by the then unnecessary support of any argument; but this seditious, unconstitutional doctrine is now publicly taught, avowed, and printed.





