Edmund Burke

I must carry with me that great excuse for everything, that salve for every sore, that expiation for every crime: let me provide that, all is well.

You find the appearance all false and fraudulent; and you see the whole trick at once.

These theories are long since gone by; they have had their day, and have done their mischief.

I can never sufficiently express my gratitude to you for having set me in a place wherein I could lend the slightest help to great and laudable designs.

This is, however, saying too little; for to try a man under that act is, in effect, to condemn him unheard.

The Englishman in America will feel that this is slavery: that it is legal slavery will be no compensation either to his feelings or his understanding.

Would you think it possible for a people to suffer more than the inhabitants of Benares have suffered, from the noble possessor of the splendid mansion down to the miserable tenants of the cottage and the hut?

They had every penny of his fortune, and I believe, though I cannot with certainty know, that the man died insolvent; and it was not pretended that he had ever applied to his own use any part of the Company's money.

I cannot think that what is done in France is beneficial to the human race.

The crime we charge is his having distributed the lands of others at his own pleasure.

The Rajah had retired to the last refuge of the afflicted, to offer up prayers to his God and our God, when a vile chubdar, or tipstaff, came to interrupt and insult him.

If there have been none, the case in future is desperate.

But I wish to be a member of Parliament to have my share of doing good and resisting evil.

Much less has he a right to supersede the law, and the principle of his own delegation and appointment, upon any idea of convenience.

He gave himself powers which the act of Parliament did not give him.

It was derived from one and the same root: namely, that the person of the monarch of France was everything; and the monarchy, and the intermediate orders of the state, by which the monarchy was upheld, were nothing.

Let those who feel with me upon this occasion join with me in this vow: if they will not, I have it all to myself.

From that moment revenge passes from the private to the public hand; but in being transferred it is far from being extinguished.

Their grand object being now, as in his brother's time, at any rate to destroy the higher orders, they think he cannot compass this end, as certainly he cannot, without elevating the lower.

If they will mix malice in their sports, I shall never consent to throw them any living, sentient creature whatsoever, no, not so much as a kitling, to torment.

But, until you become lost to all feeling of your true interest and your natural dignity, freedom they can have from none but you.

We know that the doctrines of folly are of great use to the professors of vice.

You, my Lords, are now to determine, not only whether all these labors have been vain and fruitless, but whether we have abused so long the public patience of our country, and so long oppressed merit, instead of avenging crime.

In my opinion, there never was seen so strong a government internally as that of the French municipalities.

It is necessary to preserve the dignity and respect of all the constitutional authorities.