Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: The usurpation, which, in order to subvert ancient institutions, has destroyed ancient principles, will hold power by…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1790
The usurpation, which, in order to subvert ancient institutions, has destroyed ancient principles, will hold power by arts similar to those by which it has acquired it.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

From his critique of the French Revolution, this passage describes how revolutionary power, having destroyed old principles, will maintain itself through similar means.

Share

More from Edmund Burke

Jan 1, 1790

Governments must be abused and deranged indeed, before it can be thought of; and the prospect of the future must be as bad as the experience of the past.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1790

Their trust for the future preservation of the Constitution was not in future revolutions.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1790

But the king of Great Britain obeys no other person; all other persons are individually, and collectively too, under him, and owe to him a legal obedience.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1790

A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation