A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Hypocrisy often makes grand promises it never intends to keep, and thus it has no real cost or commitment behind its words.
The quote by Edmund Burke highlights the nature of hypocrisy, emphasizing that those who are insincere can make lavish promises without any intention of fulfilling them. This allows hypocrites to appear generous and noble while, in reality, they are devoid of commitment and accountability, as their promises come at no real cost to them.
Themes
HypocrisyPromiseDeceptionCostInsincerity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about integrity in politics.
More from Edmund Burke
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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.
Edmund BurkeRead
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