This sort of discourse does well enough with the lamp-post for its second: to men who may reason calmly it is ridiculous The will of the many, and their interest, must very often differ; and great will be the difference when they make an evil choice.
Critiquing the French Revolution's emphasis on popular will, Burke asserts that the will of the majority does not always align with their true interests, especially when making poor choices.
Share
More from Edmund Burke
Governments must be abused and deranged indeed, before it can be thought of; and the prospect of the future must be as bad as the experience of the past.
An irregular, convulsive movement may be necessary to throw off an irregular, convulsive disease.
This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.
Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.
Other voices in this conversation
