Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: Why should you presume, that, in any country, a body duly constituted for any function will neglect to perform its duty…

On the record
Why should you presume, that, in any country, a body duly constituted for any function will neglect to perform its duty, and abdicate its trust?
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke questions the assumption that governing bodies will neglect their responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of trust in governance.

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As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.

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Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.

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They look on the frame of their commonwealth, such as it stands, to be of inestimable value; and they conceive the undisturbed succession of the crown to be a pledge of the stability and perpetuity of all the other members of our…

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All your sophisters cannot produce anything better adapted to preserve a rational and manly freedom than the course that we have pursued, who have chosen our nature rather than our speculations, our breasts rather than our inventions, for…

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