Society not only exists, but flourishes at this hour, with this superstition, in many countries, under every form of government,--in some established, in some tolerated, in others upon an equal footing.
Burke notes that society can thrive even with prevalent superstitions across different governments.
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Rome, under her emperors, united the evils of both systems; and this unnatural combination was one great cause of her ruin.
They rob only to enable them to cheat; but in a very short time they defeat the ends both of the robbery and the fraud, by making out accounts for other purposes, which blow up their whole apparatus of force and of deception.
They have not more notes in their song than the cuckoo; though, far from the softness of that harbinger of summer and plenty, their voice is as harsh and as ominous as that of the raven.
In some people I see great liberty, indeed; in many, if not in the most, an oppressive, degrading servitude.
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