Edmund Burke Quotes

       Edmund Burke
       1729-1797
      
       Edmund Burke, was born in Dublin, January 12, educated at a Quaker boarding school and at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1750 he entered the Middle Temple, London, but soon abandoned law for literary work.
      
       The best of Burke's writings and speeches belong to this period, and may be described as a defense of sound constitutional statesmanship against prevailing abuse and misgovernment. In 1788 he opened the trial of Warren Hastings by the speech which will always rank among the masterpieces of English eloquence.
      
       Burke had vast knowledge of political affairs, a glowing imagination, passionate sympathies, and an inexhaustible wealth of powerful and cultured expression. However, his delivery was awkward and speeches which today captivate the reader only served to empty the benches of the House of Commons (some speeches were in excess of eight hours).
      
       One of the foremost political thinkers of 18th century England, Burke died July 9, 1797, and was buried in a little church at Beaconsfield.

Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.     Topics: Examples All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.     Topics: Good and Evil One that confounds good and evil is an enemy to good.     Topics: Good and Evil Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.     Topics: Hypocrisy Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.     Topics: Ignorance, Apathy, History There is but one law for all, namely that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice, equity - the law of nature and of nations.     Topics: Justice The weapons with which the ill dispositions of the world are to be combated are moderation, gentleness, a little indulgence of others, and a great distrust of ourselves.     Topics: Perseverance, Gentleness Well is it known that ambition can creep as well as soar.     Topics: Perseverance What ever disunites man from God, also disunites man from man.     Topics: Rebellion, Unity Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation.     Topics: Religion The writers against religion, whilst they oppose every system, are wisely careful never to set up any of their own.     Topics: Religion But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.     Topics: Virtue, Wisdom, Liberty