“To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.”

— Edmund Burke, First Speech on Conciliation with America, 1774

About Edmund Burke

1729 – 1797

Irish statesman and political philosopher, author of "Reflections on the Revolution in France".

“Early and provident fear is the mother of safety.”

“Our patience will achieve more than our force.”

“Power gradually extirpates from the mind every humane and gentle virtue.”

“Love the little trade which thou hast learned, and be content therewith.”

“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”

“There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.”

“When Life does not find a singer to sing her heart she produces a philosopher to speak her mind.”

“They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it.”

“Something the heart must have to cherish, must love and joy and sorrow learn.”