A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Innovation stems from self-interest and narrow perspectives, which can limit one's foresight to future generations.
Edmund Burke suggests that a genuine spirit of innovation often arises from a self-centered attitude and limited viewpoints, leading to a lack of consideration for one's heritage and the future. Those who are unable to reflect on their past and learn from their ancestors are unlikely to anticipate the needs and aspirations of future generations, thereby stunting true progress and innovation.
Themes
InnovationSelfishnessAncestorsProgressPerspective
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about how modern innovations sometimes disregard historical context.
More from Edmund Burke
All quotes βTo read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
Edmund BurkeRead
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
Edmund BurkeRead
The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.
Edmund BurkeRead
Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
Edmund BurkeRead
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Edmund BurkeRead
Similar quotes
Very well, then, where do we arrive? Where do we arrive with our respect, our homage, our filial affection? At Adam! At Adam, every time. We can't build a monument to a germ, but we can build one to Adam, who is in the way to turn myth in in fifty years and be entirely forgotten in two hundred. We can build a monument and save his name to the world forever, and we'll do it!
Mark TwainRead
The good traveler has the gift of surprise.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Very notable was his distinction between coarseness and vulgarity, coarseness, revealing something; vulgarity, concealing something.
E. M. ForsterRead
I do not want to convince Christians to work for the abolition of war, but rather I want us to live recognizing that in the cross of Christ, war has been abolished.
Stanley HauerwasRead
We know too much and feel too little. At least, we feel too little of those creative emotions from which a good life springs.
Bertrand RussellRead
No social stability without individual stability.
Aldous HuxleyRead