Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents

Edmund Burke

اللغة:

الإنجليزية

الحالة:

Complete work

التأليف:

Written by the author

^^ i*ii^ WW^^ r^flilKVu -wii^is!! MP wwywm>'. i^^H mtm^m^ speciAL coLLecxiloNS ll t)OUQLAS Lil3RARy que^N's UNiveusiiy AT kiNQsxroN kiNQSTON ONTARIO CANAt)A THOUGHTS O N THE CAUSE OF THE PRESENT DISCONTENTS. Hoc vero occultum, inteftinum, domefticum malum, non modo non exiftit, verum etiam opprimit, antequam perfpi- cere atque explorare potueris. Cic. THE THIRD EDITION. LONDON, Priflted fgr J, DODSLEY, in Paj^vMall, THO U GH T S O N THE CAUSE f OFTHEPRESENT DISCONTENTS- IT is an undertaking of fome degree of de-* licacy to examine into the caufe of public diforders. If a man happens not to fucceed in fuch an enquiry, he will be thought weak and vilionary j if he touches the true grievance, there is a danger that he may come near to perfons of weight and confequence, who will rather be ex- afperated at the difcovery of their errors, than thankful for the occafion of correding them. If he fliould be obliged to blame the favourites of the people, he will be conlidered as the tool of powers if he cenfures thofe in power, he will B be 2 THOUGHTS ON THE CAUSE OF be looked on as an inflrument of fa£lion. But in all exertions of duty fomething is to be hazard- ed. In cafes of tumult and diforder, our law has inverted every man, in fome fort, with the authority of a magiftrate. When the affairs of the nation are diftradted, private people are, by the fpirit of that law, j unified in rtepping a little out of their ordinary fphere. They enjoy a privilege, of fomewhat more dignity and effedf, than that of idle lamentation over the calamities of their country. They may look into them narrowly; they may reafon upon them liberally ; and if they Ihould be fo fortu- nate as to difcover the true f

اقرأ العمل كاملاً ←