Burke Quotes

'A State without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.'

'But the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded; and the glory of Europe is extinguished'

'It is not, what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice, tell me I ought to do.

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.;

'There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men.'

'Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.'

A State which cannot change lacks the ability

To provide for its own conservation.

The age of chivalry is gone, our age lacks principles, stability,

And sophistry churns up the conversation. 

And yet we have the means of restoration,

We are not lacking in facility

To act with reason, justice, in our nation.

A State which cannot change lacks the ability

To thrive, yet we must value what is good, futility

Lies in attempts to hoard up all in preservation,

In non judgemental imbecility.

To provide for its own conservation

A State must prize what profits the next generation

Yet act with caution and humility

Which knows to act on prophecy can be causation. 

The age of chivalry is gone, our age lacks principles, stability,

And calculators and economists with great agility

In statistical lies, manipulation,

Seem to dominate, abuse our sad docility,

And sophistry churns up the conversation.

But who sets up himself a judge of truth, seeks adulation,

Receives but laughter from the Gods who know the fallibility

Of narcissistic men and in frustration

Bring about their end. We must be wise to our fragility,

Which cannot change.