But, knowing this, is there any reason, because thieves break in and steal, and thus bring detriment to you, and draw ruin on themselves, that I am to be sorry that you are in possession of shops, and of warehouses, and of wholesome laws to protect them?
Edmund Burke: “But, knowing this, is there any reason, because thieves break in and steal, and thus bring detriment to you, and draw…”
Editor's note · Context
Burke argues against the fear of theft as a reason to deny the existence of property and legal protections.
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If kings who did not owe their crown to the choice of their people had no title to make laws, what will become of the statute De tallagio non concedendo? of the Petition of Right? of the act of Habeas Corpus?
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.
Always acting as if in the presence of canonized forefathers, the spirit of freedom, leading in itself to misrule and excess, is tempered with an awful gravity.
Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.





