Edmund Burke

But, after all, when neither our principles nor our dispositions, nor, perhaps, our talents, enable us to encounter delusion with delusion, we must use our best reason to those that ought to be reasonable creatures, and to take our chance…

Men sometimes make a point of honor not to be disabused; and they had rather fall into an hundred errors than confess one.

In the unavoidable uncertainty as to the effect, which attends on every measure of human prudence, nothing seems a surer antidote to the poison of fraud than its detection.

But reason is to be hazarded, though it may be perverted by craft and sophistry; for reason can suffer no loss nor shame, nor can it impede any useful plan of future policy.

Such attempts bring on disgrace, and in their failure discountenance and discourage more rational endeavors.

A rash recourse to force is not to be justified in a state of real weakness.

I am satisfied beyond a doubt, that the project of turning a great empire into a vestry, or into a collection of vestries, and of governing it in the spirit of a parochial administration, is senseless and absurd, in any mode or with any…

I am unalterably persuaded that the attempt to oppress, degrade, impoverish, confiscate, and extinguish the original gentlemen and landed property of a whole nation cannot be justified under any form it may assume.

I thought that the scheme of their building would be better comprehended in the design of the architects than in the execution of the masons.

I published my thoughts on that Constitution, that my countrymen might be enabled to estimate the wisdom of the plans which were held out to their imitation.

The latter can serve only to flatter our vanity; the former, whilst it encourages us to proceed, may help to improve us in our progress.

I shall ever accept any mark of approbation attended with instruction with more pleasure than general and unqualified praises.

They have struck out one stage in these gradations; this removes a part of the objection; but the main objection, namely, that in their scheme the first constituent voter has no connection with the representative legislator, remains in all…

But when he hears no Goth, no Turk did bring This desolation, but a Christian king, When nothing but the name of zeal appears 'Twixt our best actions and the worst of theirs, What does he think our sacrilege would spare, When such th'…

Who sees these dismal heaps, but would demand What barbarous invader sack'd the land?

Can knowledge have no bound, but must advance So far, to make us wish for ignorance, And rather in the dark to grope our way, Than, led by a false guide, to err by day?

Could we not wake from that lethargic dream, But to be restless in a worse extreme?

Then did Religion in a lazy cell, In empty, airy contemplations, dwell; And like the block, unmovèd lay: but ours, As much too active, like the stork devours.

Who fears not to do ill, yet fears the name, And free from conscience, is a slave to fame.

No crime so bold, but would be understood A Real, or at least a seeming good.

And yet this act, to varnish o'er the shame Of sacrilege, must bear Devotion's name.

Who, having spent the treasures of his crown, Condemns their luxury to feed his own.

Mais aucune puissance sous le ciel, mais aucune opinion publique ou privée n'ont le droit de me condamner à souffrir inutilement mille supplices par minute, et à périr de désespoir, de rage, au milieu des triomphes, du crime que je n'ai pu…

The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.

You are young; you cannot guide, but must follow, the fortune of your country.