5 quotes from Edmund Burke

Although he was a very conservative leader, Edmund Burke’s phrases also reveal him as a thinker of great breadth and wisdom., who was also endowed with great wisdom. This Irish philosopher and politician was the author of important works that significantly marked the thinking of his time.

One of the most interesting aspects of Edmund Burke is that came to politics and managed to get elected as a member of parliament without being formally linked to any political party. This independence of judgment is reflected in his phrases, which are in no way partisan, but rather philosophical.

Actually, Edmund Burke’s phrases have above all a moral tone. His reflection was aimed above all at examining the values ​​of his time and how they were articulated in the exercise of politics. The following are some of his most interesting statements.

1. The limit of tolerance

The issue of tolerance It has been a controversial topic in different centuries. The most controversial point is the limit of this socially desirable value. While some propose that its scope be unlimited, others suggest that it be a virtue within limits.

In this regard, one of Edmund Burke’s phrases says: “There is a limit beyond which tolerance ceases to be a virtue.”. It is true that even excess virtues begin to become vices. If every ideological position is tolerated, we enter into a paradox: “Should intolerance be tolerated?”

2. The many faces of ambition

Another of Edmund Burke’s phrases points out: “It is well known that ambition can both fly and crawl”. It means that this desire to go far, or to obtain certain achievements or goods, is a reality with two faces: one kind and the other dark.

Ambition can be a motivation for the effort. It leads many people to bring out the best in themselves in pursuit of a goal. However, it is also a force that drives many to bring out the worst in themselves, all in order to achieve what they set out to do.

3. The contribution of our opponents

As a good parliamentarian, Edmund Burke was involved in countless controversies. Faced with the divergence of opinions, he had an interesting position that he expressed in the following phrase: “He who fights against us strengthens our nerves and perfects our skill”.

It is clear then that He saw his opponents as a reference point to drive his personal evolution.. He says they reinforce nerves because winning a debate, in part, has to do with self-control. And they perfect skills, since a position against it forces us to polish the arguments that are put forward.

4. About fear

Edmund Burke also reflected on a universal theme: fear. Against this he points out: “Fear is the most ignorant, the most insulting and the cruelest of counselors”. His position is that of a total rejection of fear as a starting point for making decisions.

Fear is a very powerful force, it prepares us for action. However, the place it drives us towards is not always the best for us. Fear causes our perceptions and reasoning to be distorted, pushing us towards error.

5. Bad laws

Edmund Burke was a man of law and as such he formulated a lucid statement applicable to all times. This says: “Bad laws are the worst kind of tyranny”. When something becomes law, it automatically begins to operate as a parameter of what is correct or desirable for society.

However, if this law is unjust, it leaves societies in the middle of a strong contradiction. Following the law is mandatory, but doing so commits an injustice. Therefore, as Burke points out, a tyranny is established, sustained by the law itself.

Although this thinker was located within the conservative line, he also had several episodes during his life that showed his progressive lineage. In reality, he was a man attached to the most traditional values ​​and the law who had an impeccable career. That is why Edmund Burke’s phrases are a valuable contribution to understanding the background of political ethics.

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