Various well-intended, but ill-understood practices, some of them existing, in their spirit at least, from the time of the old Roman Empire, still prevail; and that government is as blindly attached to old abusive customs as others are wildly disposed to all sorts of innovations and experiments.
Burke critiques the persistence of outdated practices in governance, reflecting on the tension between tradition and innovation.
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Of this consolation whoever deprives them deadens their industry, and strikes at the root of all acquisition as of all conservation.
Those who know what virtuous liberty is cannot bear to see it disgraced by incapable heads, on account of their having high-sounding words in their mouths.
The only difference among their financial factions is on the greater or the lesser quantity of assignats to be imposed on the public sufferance.
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.
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