Selections from the Speeches and Writings of Edmund Burke


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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 (18 hr 15 min)

Chapitres

Introductory Essay 38:05 Lu par InTheDesert
Appendix 4:40 Lu par InTheDesert
Nature and Functions of the House of Commons — Retrospect and Resignation — Mod… 8:41 Lu par Elijah Fisher
Induction and Comparison — Divine Power on the Human Idea — Union of Love and D… 5:45 Lu par Elijah Fisher
Nature Anticipates Man — Self — Inspection — Power of the Obscure — Female Beau… 4:48 Lu par Elijah Fisher
Pleasures of Analogy — Ambition — Extensions of Sympathy — Philosophy of Taste … 5:12 Lu par Ariphron
Unity of Imagination — Effect of Words — Investigation — Sublime — Obscurity 4:52 Lu par Ariphron
Principles of Taste — the Beautiful — the Real and the Ideal — Judgment in Art … 7:45 Lu par Ariphron
Security of Truth — Imitation an Instinctive Law — Standard of Reason and Taste… 5:36 Lu par earl
Injustice to Our Own Age — False Coalitions — Political Empiricism — a Visionar… 6:35 Lu par earl
Decorum in Party — not So Bad as We Seem — Politics Without Principle — Moral D… 6:08 Lu par earl
Judgment and Policy — Popular Discontent — the People and Their Rulers — Govern… 6:00 Lu par Bob Goodwin
Influence of the Crown — Voice of the People — Fallacy of Extremes — Private Ch… 8:28 Lu par drandall
Confidence in the People — False Maxims Assumed as First Principles — Lord Chat… 16:31 Lu par drandall
Party and Place — Political Connections — Neutrality — Weakness in Government —… 10:05 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Combination, not Faction — Great Men — Power of Constituents — Influence of Pla… 7:10 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Good Member of Parliament — Fisheries of New England — Preparation for Parliame… 10:28 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Wisdom of Concession — Magnanimity — Duty of Representatives — Prudential Silen… 4:52 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Government and Legislation — Parliament — Moral Levellers — Public Salary and P… 8:42 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Ireland and Magna Charta — Colonies and British Constitution — Reciprocal Confi… 12:31 Lu par Steve C
Feudal Principles and Modern Times — Restrictive Virtues — Libellers of Human N… 11:35 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Patriotism and Public Income — American Protestantism — Right of Taxation — Con… 9:42 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Prudence of Timely Reform — Difficulties of Reformers — Philosophy of Commerce … 8:35 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Reform Ought to Be Progressive — Civil Freedom — Tendencies of Power — Individu… 7:00 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Cruelty and Cowardice — Bad Laws Produce Base Subserviency — False Regret — Bri… 12:20 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Evils of Distraction — Charles Fox — the Impracticable Undesirable — Constituti… 10:21 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Moral Distinctions — Electors and Representatives — Popular Opinion a Fallaciou… 10:21 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Just Freedom — England's Embassy to America — Howard, the Philanthropist — Parl… 8:09 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Reformed Civil List — French and English Revolution — Armed Discipline — Gilded… 10:59 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Sir George Saville — Corruption not Self — Reformed — the Bribed and the Briber… 14:14 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Confidence and Jealousy — Economy of Injustice — Subsistence and Revenue — Auth… 9:24 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Burke and Fox — Peers and Commons — Natural Self — Destruction — the Carnatic —… 14:08 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Politics and the Pulpit — Idea of French Revolution — Patriotic Distinction — K… 12:10 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Jargon of Republicanism — Conservative Progress of Inherited Freedom — Conserva… 16:25 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Our Constitution, not Fabricated, But Inherited — Low Aims and Low Instruments … 22:17 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Natural and Civil Rights — Marie Antoinette — Spirit of a Gentleman and the Spi… 21:46 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Sacredness of Moral Instincts — Parental Experience — Revolutionary Scene — Eco… 41:22 Lu par Ariphron
Unity Between Church and State — Triple Basis of French Revolution — Correspond… 19:31 Lu par Ariphron
Britain Vindicated in Her War with France — Polish and French Revolution — Euro… 20:38 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Danger of Abstract Views — Appeal to Impartiality — Historical Estimate of Loui… 14:45 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Tremendousness of War — English Officers — Diplomacy of Humiliation — Relation … 13:34 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Difficulty the Path to Glory — Robespierre and His Counterparts — Accumulation,… 17:16 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Sir Sydney Smith — a Moral Distinction — Infidels and Their Policy — What a Min… 21:20 Lu par Ted Lienhart
European Community — Perils of Jacobin Peace — Parliamentary and Regal Prerogat… 24:36 Lu par Ted Lienhart
"Labouring Poor" — State Consecrated by the Church — Fate of Louis XVIII — Nobi… 22:49 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Principle of State-Consecration — British Stability — Literary Atheists — City … 23:20 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Parsimony not Economy — Majesty of the British Constitution — Duty not Based on… 17:34 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Use of Defects in History — Social Contract — Prescriptive Rights — Madness of … 16:11 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Metaphysical Depravity — Personal and Ancestral Claims — Monastic and Philosoph… 18:24 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Fictitious Liberty — French Ignorance of English Character — the "People," and … 13:11 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Rousseau — Moral Heroes — Kingdom of France — Grievance and Opinion — Perplexit… 13:49 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Historical Instruction — Montesquieu — Articles, and Scripture — Problem of Leg… 10:31 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Regicidal Legislature — Government not to Be Rashly Censured — Etiquette — Anci… 10:51 Lu par Hedwig819
Patriotism — Necessity, a Relative Term — King John and the Pope — Consumption … 13:12 Lu par Elijah Fisher
"His Grace" — Speculation and History — Labour and Wages — a Complete Revolutio… 27:15 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Money and Science — Political Axioms — Disappointed Ambition — Difficulty an In… 22:28 Lu par mleigh
Prudery of False Reform — Exaggeration — Tactics of Cabal — Government, Relativ… 21:04 Lu par mleigh
Magnitude in Building — Society and Solitude — East — India Bill and Company — … 28:35 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Persecution, False in Theory — Irish Legislation — Henry of Navarre — Test Acts… 11:21 Lu par Elijah Fisher
Grievances by Law — Revolutionary Politics — Toleration Become Intolerant — Wil… 30:27 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Politics in the Pulpit — William the Conqueror — King Alfred — Druids — Saxon C… 32:59 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Ministerial Responsibility — Monastic Institutions and Their Results — Common L… 57:01 Lu par Elijah Fisher
Public Prosecutions — True Nature of a Jacobin War — National Dignity — Princip… 27:08 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Moral Diet — King William's Policy — Distemper of Remedy — War and Will of the … 18:09 Lu par Remy
Moral Essence Makes a Nation — Public Spirit — Progressive Growth of Christian … 16:47 Lu par mleigh
Extinction of Local Patriotism — Walpole and His Policy — Political Peace — Pub… 31:01 Lu par Ted Lienhart
Constitution not the People's Slave — Modern "Lights" — Republics in the Abstra… 14:08 Lu par Elijah Fisher
The Eye — Abolition and Use of Parliaments — Cromwell and His Contrasts — Delic… 23:24 Lu par Ted Lienhart
"Omnipotence of Church Plunder" — Ugliness — Grace — Elegance and Speciousness … 9:25 Lu par Ted Lienhart
The Beautiful in Sounds — British Church 8:47 Lu par Ted Lienhart