Edmund Burke

Conservatism founder

Early Modern influential 86 sayings

Sayings by Edmund Burke

Liberty, when it is abused, is of all things the most dangerous.

c. 1770s-1790s — Attributed, a consistent theme in his skepticism of unrestrained liberty.
Humorous Unverifiable

The love of lucre, and not the love of liberty, is the ruling principle of the new French Republic.

1796 — Letters on a Regicide Peace
Humorous Unverifiable

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.

1791 — Letter to a Member of the National Assembly
Humorous Unverifiable

The credulity of dupes is as inexhaustible as the invention of knaves.

c. 1770s-1790s — Attributed, a general observation on human nature.
Humorous Unverifiable

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

c. 1770s-1790s — Attributed, a maxim often found in self-help and wisdom collections, but not definitively sourced to…
Humorous Unverifiable

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.

1790 — Reflections on the Revolution in France
Humorous Unverifiable