A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects a balance between personal freedom and the constraints of societal order.
Edmund Burke's quote suggests a moment of concession in the struggle for liberty, acknowledging that while it is crucial to uphold freedom, there are times when one must temper that pursuit in the name of practical governance and social order. It reveals the complexity of liberating ideals against the backdrop of real-world implications.
Themes
LibertyFreedomGovernanceConcessionBalance
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate on civil rights, one may use this quote to highlight the tension between liberty and order.
More from Edmund Burke
All quotes βTo 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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