Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: These general rules of obedience may, upon a real necessity, admit a lawful exception; and such a necessary exception we…

On the record
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.
Said by
Edmund Burke

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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