Edmund Burke: “Such were all the ancient commonwealths; such were our Gothic ancestors; such in our days were the Poles; and such will…”

This idea of a liberal descent inspires us with a sense of habitual native dignity, which prevents that upstart insolence almost inevitably adhering to and disgracing those who are the first acquirers of any distinction.

It therefore secures both an hereditary crown and an hereditary allegiance.

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.

All your sophisters cannot produce anything better adapted to preserve a rational and manly freedom than the course that we have pursued, who have chosen our nature rather than our speculations, our breasts rather than our inventions, for…