Selections from the Speeches and Writings of Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
70 chapters · 18 h 15 min · English
Read by InTheDesert, Elijah Fisher, Ariphron, earl, Bob Goodwin, drandall and others
Political Science · Short non-fiction
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There can be no hesitation in according to him a station among the most extraordinary men that ever appeared; and we think there is now but little diversity of opinion as to the kind of place which it is fit to assign him. He was a writer of the first class, and excelled in almost every kind of composition. Possessed of most extensive knowledge, and of the most various description; acquainted alike with what different classes of men knew, each in his own province, and with much that hardly any one ever thought of learning; he could either bring his masses of information to bear directly upon the subjects to which they severally belonged, or he could avail himself of them generally to strengthen his faculties, and enlarge his views, or he could turn any of them to account for the purpose of illustrating his theme, or enriching his diction. Hence, when he is handling any one matter, we perceive that we are conversing with a reasoner or a teacher, to whom almost every other branch of knowledge is familiar: his views range over all the cognate objects; his reasonings are derived from principles applicable to other themes, as well as the one in hand; arguments pour in from all sides, as well as those which start up under our feet, the natural growth of the path he is leading us over; while to throw light round our steps, and either explore its darkest places, or serve for our recreation; illustrations are fetched from a thousand quarters, and an imagination marvelously quick to descry unthought of resemblances, points to our use the stores, which a love yet more marvelously has gathered from all ages and nations, and arts and tongues. - Summary by Sir James Mackintosh
Chapters
1 Introductory Essay 38 min 2 Appendix 5 min 3 Nature and Functions of the House of Commons: Retrospect and Resignation: Modesty of Mind: Newton and Nature: Theory and Practice 9 min 4 Induction and Comparison: Divine Power on the Human Idea: Union of Love and Dread in Religion: Office of Sympathy: Words 6 min 5 Nature Anticipates Man: Self: Inspection: Power of the Obscure: Female Beauty: Novelty and Curiosity 5 min 6 Pleasures of Analogy: Ambition: Extensions of Sympathy: Philosophy of Taste: Clearness and Strength in Style 5 min 7 Unity of Imagination: Effect of Words: Investigation: Sublime: Obscurity 5 min 8 Principles of Taste: the Beautiful: the Real and the Ideal: Judgment in Art: Moral Effects of Language 8 min 9 Security of Truth: Imitation an Instinctive Law: Standard of Reason and Taste: Use of Theory: Political Outcasts 6 min 10 Injustice to Our Own Age: False Coalitions: Political Empiricism: a Visionary: Party Divisions 7 min 11 Decorum in Party: not So Bad as We Seem: Politics Without Principle: Moral Debasement Progressive: Despotism 6 min 12 Judgment and Policy: Popular Discontent: the People and Their Rulers: Government Favouritism: Administration and Legislation 6 min 13 Influence of the Crown: Voice of the People: Fallacy of Extremes: Private Character a Basis for Public Confidence: Prevention 8 min 14 Confidence in the People: False Maxims Assumed as First Principles: Lord Chatham: Grenville: Charles Townshend 17 min 15 Party and Place: Political Connections: Neutrality: Weakness in Government: American Progress 10 min 16 Combination, not Faction: Great Men: Power of Constituents: Influence of Place in Government: Taxation Involves Principle 7 min 17 Good Member of Parliament: Fisheries of New England: Preparation for Parliament: Bathurst and America's Future: Candid Policy 10 min 18 Wisdom of Concession: Magnanimity: Duty of Representatives: Prudential Silence: Colonial Ties 5 min 19 Government and Legislation: Parliament: Moral Levellers: Public Salary and Patriotic Service: Rational Liberty 9 min 20 Ireland and Magna Charta: Colonies and British Constitution: Reciprocal Confidence: Pensions and the Crown: Colonial Progress 13 min 21 Feudal Principles and Modern Times: Restrictive Virtues: Libellers of Human Nature: Refusal a Revenue: a Party Man 12 min 22 Patriotism and Public Income: American Protestantism: Right of Taxation: Contracted Views: Assimilating Power of Contact 10 min 23 Prudence of Timely Reform: Difficulties of Reformers: Philosophy of Commerce: Theorizing Politicians: Economy and Public Spirit 9 min 24 Reform Ought to Be Progressive: Civil Freedom: Tendencies of Power: Individual Good and Public Benefit: Public Corruption 7 min 25 Cruelty and Cowardice: Bad Laws Produce Base Subserviency: False Regret: British Dominion in East India: Political Charity 12 min 26 Evils of Distraction: Charles Fox: the Impracticable Undesirable: Constitution of the Commons: Emoluments of Office 10 min 27 Moral Distinctions: Electors and Representatives: Popular Opinion a Fallacious Standard: English Reformation: Proscription 10 min 28 Just Freedom: England's Embassy to America: Howard, the Philanthropist: Parliamentary Retrospect: People and Parliament 8 min 29 Reformed Civil List: French and English Revolution: Armed Discipline: Gilded Despotism: Our French Dangers 11 min 30 Sir George Saville: Corruption not Self: Reformed: the Bribed and the Bribers: Hyder Ali: Reformation and Anarchy Contrasted and Compared 14 min 31 Confidence and Jealousy: Economy of Injustice: Subsistence and Revenue: Authority and Venality: Prerogative of the Crown and Privilege of Parliament 9 min 32 Burke and Fox: Peers and Commons: Natural Self: Destruction: the Carnatic: Abstract Theory of Human Liberty 14 min 33 Politics and the Pulpit: Idea of French Revolution: Patriotic Distinction: Kingly Power not Based on Popular Choice: Preaching Democracy of Dissent 12 min 34 Jargon of Republicanism: Conservative Progress of Inherited Freedom: Conservation and Correction: Hereditary Succession of English Crown: Limits of Legislative Capacity 16 min 35 Our Constitution, not Fabricated, But Inherited: Low Aims and Low Instruments: House of Commons Contrasted with National Assembly: Property, More Than Ability, Represented in Parliament: Virtue and Wisdom Qualify for Government 22 min 36 Natural and Civil Rights: Marie Antoinette: Spirit of a Gentleman and the Spirit of Religion: Power Survives Opinion: Chivalry a Moralizing Charm 22 min 37 Sacredness of Moral Instincts: Parental Experience: Revolutionary Scene: Economy on State Principles: Philosophical Vanity; Its Maxims, and Effects 41 min 38 Unity Between Church and State: Triple Basis of French Revolution: Correspondent System of Manners and Morals: Ferocity of Jacobinism: Voice of Oppression 20 min 39 Britain Vindicated in Her War with France: Polish and French Revolution: Europe in 1789: Atheism Cannot Repent: Outward Dignity of the Church Defended 21 min 40 Danger of Abstract Views: Appeal to Impartiality: Historical Estimate of Louis Xvi: Negative Religion a Nullity: Antechamber of Regicide 15 min 41 Tremendousness of War: English Officers: Diplomacy of Humiliation: Relation of Wealth to National Dignity: Ambassadors of Infamy 14 min 42 Difficulty the Path to Glory: Robespierre and His Counterparts: Accumulation, a State Principle: Warning for a Nation: Santerre and Tallien 17 min 43 Sir Sydney Smith: a Moral Distinction: Infidels and Their Policy: What a Minister Should Attempt: Law of Vicinity 21 min 44 European Community: Perils of Jacobin Peace: Parliamentary and Regal Prerogative: Burke's Design in His Greatest Work: Lord Keppel 25 min 45 "Labouring Poor": State Consecrated by the Church: Fate of Louis XVIII: Nobility: Legislation and Republicans 23 min 46 Principle of State-Consecration: British Stability: Literary Atheists: City of Paris: Principle of Church Property 23 min 47 Parsimony not Economy: Majesty of the British Constitution: Duty not Based on Will: Ecclesiastical Confiscation: Moral of History 18 min 48 Use of Defects in History: Social Contract: Prescriptive Rights: Madness of Innovation: the State, Its Own Revenue 16 min 49 Metaphysical Depravity: Personal and Ancestral Claims: Monastic and Philosophic Superstition: Difficulty and Wisdom of Corporate Reform: Distinctive Character of English Protestantism 18 min 50 Fictitious Liberty: French Ignorance of English Character: the "People," and "Omnipotence" of Parliament: Magnanimity of English People: True Basis of Civil Society 13 min 51 Rousseau: Moral Heroes: Kingdom of France: Grievance and Opinion: Perplexity and Policy 14 min 52 Historical Instruction: Montesquieu: Articles, and Scripture: Problem of Legislation: Order, Labour, and Property 11 min 53 Regicidal Legislature: Government not to Be Rashly Censured: Etiquette: Ancient Establishments: Sentiment and Policy 11 min 54 Patriotism: Necessity, a Relative Term: King John and the Pope: Consumption and Produce: "Priests of the Rights of Man" 13 min 55 "His Grace": Speculation and History: Labour and Wages: a Complete Revolution: British Government in India 27 min 56 Money and Science: Political Axioms: Disappointed Ambition: Difficulty an Instructor: Sovereign Jurisdictions 22 min 57 Prudery of False Reform: Exaggeration: Tactics of Cabal: Government, Relative, not Absolute: General Views 21 min 58 Magnitude in Building: Society and Solitude: East: India Bill and Company: Parliaments and Elections: Religion and Magistracy 29 min 59 Persecution, False in Theory: Irish Legislation: Henry of Navarre: Test Acts: What Faction Ought to Teach 11 min 60 Grievances by Law: Revolutionary Politics: Toleration Become Intolerant: Wilkes and Right of Election: Rockingham and Conway 30 min 61 Politics in the Pulpit: William the Conqueror: King Alfred: Druids: Saxon Conquest and Conversion 33 min 62 Ministerial Responsibility: Monastic Institutions and Their Results: Common Law and Magna Charta: Europe and the Norman Invasion: Ancient Inhabitants of Britain 57 min 63 Public Prosecutions: True Nature of a Jacobin War: National Dignity: Principles of Government not Absolute, But Relative: Declaration of 1793 27 min 64 Moral Diet: King William's Policy: Distemper of Remedy: War and Will of the People: False Policy in Our French War 18 min 65 Moral Essence Makes a Nation: Public Spirit: Progressive Growth of Christian States: Petty Interests: Pius Vii 17 min 66 Extinction of Local Patriotism: Walpole and His Policy: Political Peace: Public Loans: Historical Strictures 31 min 67 Constitution not the People's Slave: Modern "Lights": Republics in the Abstract: an English Monarch: Physiognomy 14 min 68 The Eye: Abolition and Use of Parliaments: Cromwell and His Contrasts: Delicacy: Confiscation and Currency 23 min 69 "Omnipotence of Church Plunder": Ugliness: Grace: Elegance and Speciousness: the Beautiful in Feeling 9 min 70 The Beautiful in Sounds: British Church 9 min
