Edmund Burke
Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety.
Mere parsimony is not economy. Expense, and great expense, may be an essential part in true economy.
He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny.
Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones.
Toleration is good for all, or it is good for none.
In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.
Circumstances give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing color and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.
The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.
Falsehood is a perennial spring.
In effect, to follow, not to force the public inclination; to give a direction, a form, a technical dress, and a specific sanction, to the general sense of the community, is the true end of legislature.
The most important of all revolutions, a revolution in sentiments, manners and moral opinions.
Free trade is not based on utility but on justice.
Under the pressure of the cares and sorrows of our mortal condition, men have at all times, and in all countries, called in some physical aid to their moral consolations - wine, beer, opium, brandy, or tobacco.
Tyrants seldom want pretexts.
Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.
The person who grieves suffers his passion to grow upon him; he indulges it, he loves it; but this never happens in the case of actual pain, which no man ever willingly endured for any considerable time.
If the people are happy, united, wealthy, and powerful, we presume the rest. We conclude that to be good from whence good is derived.
It is, generally, in the season of prosperity that men discover their real temper, principles, and designs.
The march of the human mind is slow.
It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.
The effect of liberty to individuals is that they may do what they please: we ought to see what it will please them to do, before we risk congratulations.
He had no failings which were not owing to a noble cause; to an ardent, generous, perhaps an immoderate passion for fame; a passion which is the instinct of all great souls.
Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.
Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.
Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.
Ambition can creep as well as soar.
The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.
A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
Whenever our neighbour's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own.
The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.
It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.
Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.
Slavery is a weed that grows on every soil.
Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart; nor will moderation be utterly exiled from the minds of tyrants.
One that confounds good and evil is an enemy to good.
Among a people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist.
By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.
A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.
Custom reconciles us to everything.
Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.Collection: Wisdom
The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.Collection: Motivational
The Fate of good men who refuse to become involved in politics is to be ruled by evil men.Collection: Fate
The essence of tyranny is the enforcement of stupid laws.Collection: Stupid