This is what history or books of speculation could hardly have taught us.
Edmund Burke: “This is what history or books of speculation could hardly have taught us.”
Editor's note · Context
Burke claims that historical events can reveal truths that speculative writings may not convey.
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But when the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service.
Let us imitate their caution, if we wish to deserve their fortune or to retain their bequests.
Whatever they are, I wish my countrymen rather to recommend to our neighbors the example of the British Constitution than to take models from them for the improvement of our own.
If any of them should happen to propose a scheme of liberty soberly limited, and defined with proper qualifications, he will be immediately outbid by his competitors, who will produce something more splendidly popular.





