Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: Whereas whatever is got by acts of absolute power ill obeyed because odious, or by contracts ill kept because…

On the record
Whereas whatever is got by acts of absolute power ill obeyed because odious, or by contracts ill kept because constrained, will be narrow, feeble, uncertain, and precarious.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke argues that resources obtained through coercive means will be weak and unreliable compared to those gained through legitimate governance.

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