Political Quotes

Edmund Burke: Between these litigant parties for power I shall not determine on the merits,--thinking of nothing but the use that was…

On the record
Between these litigant parties for power I shall not determine on the merits,--thinking of nothing but the use that was made of the power, to whomsoever it belonged.
Said by
Edmund Burke

Editor's note · Context

Burke refrains from judging the merits of the competing factions in Calcutta, focusing instead on the implications of their power use.

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