249 quotes
No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.
A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757)
The writers against religion, whilst they oppose every system, are wisely careful never to set up any of their own.
A Vindication of Natural Society (1756)
The first and the simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind is Curiosity.
A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757)
It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the publick to be the most anxious for its welfare.
Observations on a Late Publication on the Present State of the Nation (1769)
The conduct of a losing party never appears right: at least it can never possess the only infallible criterion of wisdom to vulgar judgments—success.
When any work seems to have required immense force and labor to affect it, the idea is grand.
A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757)
They who bow to the enemy abroad will not be of power to subdue the conspirator at home.
Letters On a Regicide Peace (1796)
Vice itself lost half its evil by losing all its grossness.
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
I cannot conceive how any man can have brought himself to that pitch of presumption, to consider his country as nothing but carte blanche, upon which he may scribble whatever he pleases.
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
It is reconciled in policy; and politics ought to be adjusted, not to human reasonings, but to human nature; of which the reason is but a part; and by no means the greatest part.
Observations on a Late Publication on the Present State of the Nation (1769)
Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.
Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is not to be a king. However, a political executive magistracy, though merely such, is a great trust.
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together.
Poetry is the art of substantiating shadows, and of lending existence to nothing.
There is a boundary to men's passions when they act from feeling; none when they are under the influence of imagination.
An Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs (1791)
I venture to say no war can be long carried on against the will of the people.
I do not know the method of drawing up an indictment against an whole people.
A very great part of the mischiefs that vex this world arises from words.
letter (1795)
In their nomination to office they will not appoint to the exercise of authority as to a pitiful job, but as to a holy function.
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)