He was indolent, yet restless, in his disposition; fond of working by violent methods, without any vigor; boastful, but continually betraying his fears; showing on all occasions such a desire of peace as hindered him from ever enjoying it.
Edmund Burke: “He was indolent, yet restless, in his disposition; fond of working by violent methods, without any vigor; boastful, but…”
Editor's note · Context
Burke describes the king's contradictory nature and ineffective leadership style.
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All your sophisters cannot produce anything better adapted to preserve a rational and manly freedom than the course that we have pursued, who have chosen our nature rather than our speculations, our breasts rather than our inventions, for…
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Their objects would be enlarged with their elevation; but their disposition, and habits, and mode of accomplishing their designs must remain the same.
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