If the people are happy, united, wealthy, and powerful, we presume the rest.
Edmund Burke: “If the people are happy, united, wealthy, and powerful, we presume the rest.”
Editor's note · Context
From his critique of the French Revolution, Burke observes that the well-being and strength of a nation's populace are the ultimate indicators of a good government.
Share
More from Edmund Burke
As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.
The speculative line of demarcation, where obedience ought to end and resistance must begin, is faint, obscure, and not easily definable.
This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.
They look upon the legal hereditary succession of their crown as among their rights, not as among their wrongs,--as a benefit, not as a grievance,--as a security for their liberty, not as a badge of servitude.





