For mercy, as we conceive, consists, not in the weakness of the means, but in the benignity of the ends.
Edmund Burke: “For mercy, as we conceive, consists, not in the weakness of the means, but in the benignity of the ends.”
Editor's note · Context
Burke defines mercy not as weakness but as a benevolent intention behind actions.
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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.
I would not exclude alteration neither; but even when I changed, it should be to preserve.
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.
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.





