A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, by leaving much to free will, even with some loss of the object , than to attempt to make men mere machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world on the whole will gain by a liberty, without which virtue cannot exist.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Valuing individual freedom fosters virtue and humanity more than enforcing rigid control.
This quote emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and the inherent value of allowing people to choose their own paths, suggesting that true virtue and humanity can only thrive in an environment where liberty is present. Edmund Burke argues against reducing individuals to mere instruments of political agendas, asserting that the overall good of the world depends on allowing free will and the consequences that come with it.
Themes
VirtueHumanityFreedomLibertyPolitical BenevolenceIndividual Choice
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal development, one might say, 'Remember, it is better to cherish virtue and humanity, as Edmund Burke notes, than to impose control on others.'
More from Edmund Burke
All quotes →To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
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Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
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The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.
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Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
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