Edmund Burke

Question 1

I don’t like that part of your letter wherein you say, “you had the testimony of well-doing in your breast.” Whenever such notions rise again, endeavour to suppress them. It is one of the subtlest stratagems the enemy of mankind uses to delude us, that, by lulling us into a false peace, his conquest may be the easier. We should always be in no other than the state of a penitent, because the most righteous of us is no better than a sinner. Pray read the parable of the pharisee and the publican who prayed in the temple.

Edmund Burke, ætat. 16, to R. Shackleton.

Question 2

Shall I rage, fret, and accuse Providence of injustice? No: let me rather lament that I do not what is always right; what depends not on the fortuitous changes of this world, nor the blind sport of fortune, but remains unalterably fixed in the mind; untouched, though this shattered globe shall fall in pieces, and bury us in the ruins. Though I do lead a virtuous life, let it show me how I am, and of myself how weak; how far from an independent being; given as a sheep into the hands of the great Shepherd of all, on whom let us cast all our cares, for He careth for us.

Edmund Burke, ætat. 17: To R. Shackleton.

Question 3

I would recommend Sallust, rather than Tally’s epistles; which I think are not so extremely valuable. Besides, Sallust is indisputably one of the best historians among the Romans, both for the purity of his language and elegance of his style. He has, I think, a fine, easy, and diversified narrative, mixed with reflections, moral and political, neither very trite and obvious, nor out of the way and abstract; which is, I think, the true beauty of historical observation. Neither should I pass by his beautiful painting of characters. In short, he is an author that, on all accounts, I would recommend to you

Answer 3

cont’d:
As for Terence and Plautus, what I fancy you will chiefly get by them, as to the language, is some insight into the common manner of speech used by the Romans. One excels in the justness of his pieces, the other in the humour. I think a play in each will be sufficient. I would recommend to you Tully’s orations,—excellent indeed.

Edmund Burke, ætat. 18, to R. Shackleton.

Question 4

Pope says, all the advantage arising from the reputation of wit, is the privilege of saying foolish things unnoticed; and it really is so, as to letters, or anything committed to writing. But I don’t think it holds good with respect to conversation; for I have observed that where a man gets a reputation for being a little witty, all shun, fear, and hate him, and carp and canvas his most trifling words or actions.

Edmund Burke, ætat. 18: To R. Shackleton.

Question 5

Indeed no man knows, when he cuts off the incitements to a virtuous ambition and the just rewards of public service, what infinite mischief he may do his country through all generations.

Question 6

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.

Question 7

An appearance of delicacy, and even of fragility, is almost essential to it [beauty].

Question 8

That great chain of causes, which, linking one to another, even to the throne of God himself, can never be unravelled by any industry of ours.

Question 9

It becomes extremely hard to disentangle our idea of the cause from the effect by which we know it.

Question 10

That the Christian religion cannot exist in this country with such a fraternity will not, I think, be disputed with me. On that religion, according to our mode, all our laws and institutions stand, as upon their base. That scheme is supposed in every transaction of life; and if that were done away, everything else, as in France, must be changed along with it. Thus, religion perishing, and with it this Constitution, it is a matter of endless meditation what order of things would follow it.

Question 11

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

Question 12

One who wishes to preserve consistency, but who would preserve consistency by varying his means to secure the unity of his end.

Question 13

Men love to hear of their power, but have an extreme disrelish to be told their duty.

Question 14

What is the education of the generality of the world? Reading a parcel of books? No. Restraint of discipline, emulation, examples of virtue and of justice, form the education of the world.

Question 15

To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to depreciate the value of freedom itself.

Question 16

Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with manners, and with civilization, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles,… I mean the spirit of a gentleman and the spirit of religion.

Question 17

Obloquy is a necessary ingredient in the composition of all true glory.

Question 18

At some time or other, to be sure, all the beginners of dynasties were chosen by those who called them to govern.

Question 19

To demonstrate the eternal difference between a true and severe friend to the monarchy, and a slippery sycophant of the court.

Question 20

The natural effect of fidelity, clemency, kindness, in governors, is peace, good-will, order, and esteem on the part of the governed.

Question 21

The nobles have the monopoly of honour, the plebeians a monopoly of all the means of acquiring wealth.

Question 22

I own that there is a haughtiness and fierceness in human nature which will cause innumerable broils, place men in what situation you please.

Question 23

Oppression makes wise men mad; but the distemper is still the madness of the wise, which is better than the sobriety of fools.

Question 24

It has been remarked that there is no prince so bad whose favourites and ministers are not worse.

Question 25

Facts are to the mind the same thing as food to the body. On the due digestion of facts depend the strength and wisdom of the one, just as vigour and health depend on the other. The wisest in council, the ablest in debate, and the most agreeable companion in the commerce of human life, is that man who has assimilated to his understanding the greatest number of facts.

Question 26

Do they mean to invalidate, annul, or call in question that great body of our statute law? to annul laws of inestimable value to our liberties?

Question 27

His grants are engrafted on the public law of Europe, covered with the awful hoar of innumerable ages.

Question 28

The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with everything of which it is in possession.

Question 29

Grand, swelling sentiments of liberty I am sure I do not despise. They warm the heart, they enlarge and liberalize our minds; they animate our courage in a time of conflict.

Question 30

Mauger all our regulations to prevent it, the simple name of “man,” applied properly, never fails to work a salutary effect.