Tag: Burke

There are some men formed with feelings so blunt that they can hardly be said to be awake during the whole course of their lives.

Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions than ruined by too confident a security.

When ancient opinions and rules of life are taken away, the loss cannot possibly be estimated. From that moment we have no compass to govern us; nor can we know distinctly to what port to steer.

The power of perpetuating our property in our families is one of the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging to it, and that which tends the most to the perpetuation of society itself. It makes our weakness subservient to our virtue ; it grafts benevolence even upon avarice. The possession of family wealth and of the distinction which attends hereditary possessions (as most concerned in it), are the natural securities for this transmission.

Some decent, regulated pre-eminence, some preference (not exclusive appropriation) given to birth, is neither unnatural nor unjust nor impolitic.

People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.

Young man, there is America— which at this day serves for little more than to amuse you with stories of savage men and uncouth manners ; yet shall, before you taste of death, show itself equal to the whole of that commerce which now attracts the envy of the world.

He who calls in the aid of an equal understanding doubles his own; and he who profits by a superior understanding raises his powers to a level with the height of the superior understanding he unites with.

The pride of men will not often suffer reason to have any scope until it can be no longer of service.

There is a wide difference between admiration and love. The sublime, which is the cause of the former, always dwells on great objects and terrible; the latter on small ones and pleasing; we submit to what we admire, but we love what submits to us: in one case we are forced, in the other we are flattered, into compliance.

Chapter of accidents.

A calumnious abuse, too often repeated, becomes so familiar to the ear as to lose its effect. There is a time when the hoary head of inveterate abuse will neither draw reverence nor obtain protection.

Men who undertake considerable things, even in a regular way, ought to give us ground to presume ability.