Edmund Burke Quotes About Mankind

Quotes about: Mankind

• Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.

  Edmund Burke

  Children, School, Example

  'Letters on a Regicide Peace' Letter 1 (1796)

• To complain of the age we live in, to murmur at the present possessors of power, to lament the past, to conceive extravagant hopes of the future, are the common dispositions of the greatest part of mankind.

  Edmund Burke

  Past, Age, Complaining

  'Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents' (1770) p. 4

• To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affections. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed toward a love to our country and to mankind. The interest of that portion of social arrangement is a trust in the hands of all those who compose it; and as none but bad men would justify it in abuse, none but traitors would barter it away for their own personal advantage.

  Edmund Burke

  Country, Peace, War

  Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

• In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.

  Edmund Burke

  Wisdom, Past, Errors

  Edmund Burke (1790). “Reflections on the Revolution in France: And on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. In a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris”, p.208

• I find along with many virtues in my countrymen there is a jealousy, a soreness, and readiness to take offence, as if they were the most helpless and impotent of mankind, and yet a violence... and a boistrousness in their resentment, as if they had been puffed up with the highest prosperity and power. they will not only be served, but it must also be in their own way and on their own principles and even in words and language that they liked... which renders it very difficult for a plain unguarded man as I am to have anything to do with them or their affairs.

  Edmund Burke

  Men, History, Way

• For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever

  Edmund Burke

  Views, Excellence, Mankind

  Edmund Burke (1824). “A Philosophical Inquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful”, p.102

• 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.

  Edmund Burke

  Reality, Color, Giving

  Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.1385, Delphi Classics

• The introduction of Christianity, which, under whatever form, always confers such inestimable benefits on mankind, soon made a sensible change in these rude and fierce manners.

  Edmund Burke

  Rude, Benefits, Fierce

  Edmund Burke (1963). “Edmund Burke: Selected Writings and Speeches”, p.87, Transaction Publishers

• I cannot stand forward, and give praise or blame to any thing which relates to human actions, and human concerns, on a simple view of the subject as it stands stripped of every relation, in all the nakedness and solitude of metaphysical abstraction. Circumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour, and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.

  Edmund Burke

  Simple, Reality, Views

• Surely the church is a place where one day's truce ought to be allowed to the dissensions and animosities of mankind.

  Edmund Burke

  Church, One Day, Mankind

  Edmund Burke (2010). “On Taste on the Sublime and Beautiful, Reflections on the Revolution, A Letter to a Noble Lord”, p.160, Cosimo, Inc.

• Futurity is the great concern of mankind.

  Edmund Burke

  Mankind, Concern

  Edmund Burke (1852). “The Works and Correspondance of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke”, p.188

• Refined policy ever has been the parent of confusion, and ever will be so as long as the world endures. Plain good intention, which is as easily discovered at the first view as fraud is surely detected at last, is of no mean force in the government of mankind.

  Edmund Burke

  Mean, Views, Government

  Edmund Burke, James BURKE (Barrister-at-Law.) (1854). “The Speeches of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, with Memoir and Historical Introductions. By James Burke”, p.75

• In a democracy the majority of citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority...and that oppression of the majority will extend to far great number, and will be carried on with much greater fury, than can almost ever be apprehended from the dominion of a single sceptre. Under a cruel prince they have the plaudits of the people to animate their generous constancy under their sufferings; but those who are subjected to wrong under multitudes are deprived of all external consolation: they seem deserted by mankind, overpowered by a conspiracy of their whole species.

  Edmund Burke

  Exercise, Numbers, People

• As mankind becomes more enlightened to know their real interests, they will esteem the value of agriculture; they will find it in their natural--their destined occupation.

  Edmund Burke

  Real, Agriculture, Occupation

• He that accuses all mankind of corruption ought to remember that he is sure to convict only one.

  Edmund Burke

  Remember, Corruption, Accusation

  Edmund Burke (2015). “A Letter On the Affairs of America”, p.43, Lulu Press, Inc

• It is by bribing, not so often by being bribed, that wicked politicians bring ruin on mankind. Avarice is a rival to the pursuits of many.

  Edmund Burke

  Wicked, Rivals, Ruins

  Edmund Burke (1804). “Maxims and opinions, moral, political and economical, with characters, from the works of ... Edmund Burke”, p.15

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