A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Progress and cooperation in society require compromise.
Edmund Burke's quote emphasizes the foundational role that compromise plays in the functioning of government and society. He suggests that all human achievements and virtues arise from the ability to negotiate and make concessions, indicating that true benefits and enjoyment in life stem from a balance of differing perspectives and a willingness to engage in give-and-take.
Themes
CompromiseGovernmentSocietyNegotiationVirtueCollaboration
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote at a political debate to highlight the importance of reaching across the aisle for effective governance.
More from Edmund Burke
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Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
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The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.
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Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
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