Selections from the Speeches and Writings of Edmund Burke


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)

Chapters

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