These metaphysic rights entering into common life, like rays of light which pierce into a dense medium, are, by the laws of Nature, refracted from their straight line.
Edmund Burke: “These metaphysic rights entering into common life, like rays of light which pierce into a dense medium, are, by the laws…”
Editor's note · Context
Burke uses a metaphor to explain how abstract metaphysical rights become distorted and complex when applied to the realities of common life.
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The engagement and pact of society, which generally goes by the name of the Constitution, forbids such invasion and such surrender.
Who could doubt but that, at any expense to the state, of which they understood nothing, they must pursue their private interests, which they understood but too well?
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.
But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.





