When kings became monks, a high lustre was reflected upon the monastic state, and great credit accrued to the power of their doctrine, which was able to produce such extraordinary effects upon persons over whom religion has commonly the slightest influence.
Burke describes the significant impact of kings becoming monks on the perception of monastic life.
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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.
The prattling about the rights of men will not be accepted in payment of a biscuit or a pound of gunpowder.
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.
Every honest mind, every true lover of liberty and humanity, must rejoice to find that injustice is not always good policy, nor rapine the high-road to riches.
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