A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
A populace never rebels from passion for attack, but from impatience of suffering.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People revolt not out of desire for aggression, but due to the pain they endure.
Edmund Burke's quote highlights the motivations behind rebellion, suggesting that it is not driven by a thirst for violence or aggression, but rather by a deep-seated frustration and suffering that compels people to seek change. The quote emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying grievances that lead to societal upheaval, reminding us that suffering can be a powerful catalyst for transformation.
Themes
RebellionSufferingChangeMotivationSociety
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the French Revolution to illustrate the people's motivations.
More from Edmund Burke
All quotes βTo read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
Edmund BurkeRead
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
Edmund BurkeRead
The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.
Edmund BurkeRead
Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
Edmund BurkeRead
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Edmund BurkeRead
Similar quotes
We have grown up watching women be used as props on a man's journey. It's not our fault that that's what we saw as children. But we need to acknowledge that and do better.
Jessica ChastainRead
You've got to acknowledge what you did wrong and see if you can fix it to the extent possible, and turn the page.
Tony La RussaRead
Making a big life change is pretty scary. But know what's even scarier? Regret.
Zig ZiglarRead
Whether or not you welcome it, moving house requires you to make choices about the past as you move into the future. What of all of your bits of stuff is truly valued? What should be left behind?
Julia GillardRead
Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.
Bren BrownRead
You think OWS is radical? You think 350.org was radical for helping organize mass civil disobedience in D.C. in August against the Keystone Pipeline? We're not radical. Radicals work for oil companies. The CEO of Exxon gets up every morning and goes to work changing the chemical composition of the atmosphere. No one has ever done anything as radical as that, not in all of human history.
Bill MckibbenRead