Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: An enemy is a bad witness; a robber is a worse.

On the recordJanuary 1, 1790
An enemy is a bad witness; a robber is a worse.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

In his arguments against the confiscation of church property during the French Revolution, Burke warns against accepting the testimony of those with a vested interest in the downfall of others.

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