Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

Their wordsCircumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing color and discriminating effect.

Their wordsA state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.

Their wordsThis policy appears to me to be the result of profound reflection,—or rather the happy effect of following Nature, which is wisdom without reflection, and above it. A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views.

Their wordsTo be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ, as it were) of public affections. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed towards a love to our country and to mankind.

Their wordsBelieve me, Sir, those who attempt to level never equalize. In all societies consisting of various descriptions of citizens, some description must be uppermost.

Their wordsThe characteristic essence of property, formed out of the combined principles of its acquisition and conservation, is to be unequal.

Their wordsIn this partnership all men have equal rights; but not to equal things.

Their wordsAnd as to the share of power, authority, and direction which each individual ought to have in the management of the state, that I must deny to be amongst the direct original rights of man in civil society; for I have in my contemplation the civil social man, and no other. It is a thing to be settled by convention.

Their wordsGovernment is not made in virtue of natural rights, which may and do exist in total independence of it,—and exist in much greater clearness, and in a much greater degree of abstract perfection: but their abstract perfection is their practical defect. By having a right to everything they want everything.

Their wordsBut the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded; and the glory of Europe is extinguished forever.

Their wordsKings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.

Their wordsWe are afraid to put men to live and trade each on his own private stock of reason; because we suspect that the stock in each man is small, and that the individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations and of ages.

Their wordsPrejudice renders a man's virtue his habit, and not a series of unconnected acts. Through just prejudice, his duty becomes a part of his nature.

Their wordsWe know, and, what is better, we feel inwardly, that religion is the basis of civil society, and the source of all good, and of all comfort.

Their wordsWe know, and it is our pride to know, that man is by his constitution a religious animal; that atheism is against, not only our reason, but our instincts; and that it cannot prevail long.

Their wordsA perfect democracy is therefore the most shameless thing in the world. As it is the most shameless, it is also the most fearless.

Their wordsAs the ends of such a partnership cannot be obtained in many generations, it becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.

Their wordsI am not afraid that I shall be disavowed, when I assure you that there is not one public man in this kingdom, whom you wish to quote,—no, not one, of any party or description,—who does not reprobate the dishonest, perfidious, and cruel confiscation which the National Assembly has been compelled to make of that property which it was their first duty to protect.

Their wordsOf this I am certain, that in a democracy the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority, whenever strong divisions prevail in that kind of polity, as they often must,—and that oppression of the minority will extend to far greater numbers, and will be carried on with much greater fury, than can almost ever be apprehended from the dominion of a single sceptre.

Their wordsA disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Everything else is vulgar in the conception, perilous in the execution.

Their wordsRage and frenzy will pull down more in half an hour than prudence, deliberation, and foresight can build up in a hundred years.