These general rules of obedience may, upon a real necessity, admit a lawful exception; and such a necessary exception we assert the Revolution to be.
Edmund Burke: “These general rules of obedience may, upon a real necessity, admit a lawful exception; and such a necessary exception we…”
Editor's note · Context
Burke states that general rules of obedience can have lawful exceptions in cases of real necessity, citing the Revolution as such an exception.
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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.
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.
Our people will find employment enough for a truly patriotic, free, and independent spirit, in guarding what they possess from violation.





