Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: Hastings, having resolved to seize upon the treasures of the Begums, is at a loss for some pretence of justifying the…

On the record
Hastings, having resolved to seize upon the treasures of the Begums, is at a loss for some pretence of justifying the act.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke describes Hastings' struggle to justify the unjust seizure of the Begums' treasures, illustrating the moral conflict in his actions.

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