Instead of trembling for the existence of our government from the spirit of licentiousness and anarchy, the author would make us believe we are to tremble for our liberties from the great accession of power which is to accrue to government.
Burke critiques the notion that increased government power is a threat to liberties rather than anarchy.
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This was reserved to our time, to quench the little glimmerings of reason which might break in upon the solid darkness of this enlightened age.
To keep a balance between the power of acquisition on the part of the subject and the demands he is to answer on the part of the state is the fundamental part of the skill of a true politician.
Never did a state, in any case, enrich itself by the confiscations of the citizens.
The prattling about the rights of men will not be accepted in payment of a biscuit or a pound of gunpowder.
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