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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.

— Edmund Burke

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Source: A Letter from Mr. Burke to a Member of the National Assembly in Answer to Some Objections to His Book on French Affairs (January 19, 1791). London: J. Dodsley, 1791, p. 7
Source quality: Precise citation Points to a specific work with a page, chapter, date or similar locator, so you can look it up.

More by Edmund Burke

People must be governed in a manner agreeable to their temper and disposition; and men of free character and spirit must be ruled with, at least, some condescension to this spirit and this character.

Observations on a Late Publication on the Present State of the Nation (1769)

The rights of the people are every thing, as they ought to be in the true and natural order of things.

On the Impeachment of Warren Hastings (1794)

Learning will be cast into the mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swinish multitude.

Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

I am well aware, that men love to hear of their power, but have an extreme disrelish to be told of their duty.

An Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs (1791)

The unbought grace of life, the cheap defence of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise, is gone!

Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

All men that are ruined, are ruined on the side of their natural propensities.

Letters On a Regicide Peace (1796)

There is, however, a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.

Observations on a Late Publication on the Present State of the Nation (1769)

Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.

Letters On a Regicide Peace (1796)

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Topics

Success

More quotes by Edmund Burke

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

People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.

Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.

Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents (1770)

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.

Speech at a County Meeting of Buckinghamshire (1784)

You can never plan the future by the past.

A Letter to a Member of the National Assembly (1791)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Edmund Burke (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.