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By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.

Edmund Burke

Prudence is not only the first in rank of the virtues political and moral, but she is the director and regulator, the standard of them all.
EDMUND BURKE

Director Politics Prudent Standard Virtue
All that needs to be done for evil to prevail is good men doing nothing.
EDMUND BURKE

Evil Goodness Man Ourselves
Those who have been intoxicated with power… can never willingly abandon it.
EDMUND BURKE

Abandonment Power Willing
Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.
EDMUND BURKE

Despair Work
When you fear something, learn as much about it as you can. Knowledge conquers fear.
EDMUND BURKE

Fear Knowledge Learning Yourself
All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing as they must if they believe they can do nothing. There is nothing worse because the council of despair is declaration of irresponsibility; it is Pilate washing his hands.
EDMUND BURKE

Council Evil Hands Irresponsibility Necessary Success Wash
It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.
EDMUND BURKE

Anxiety Errors Loud Popular Public Welfare
Toleration is good for all, or it is good for none.
EDMUND BURKE

Deep Goodness Tolerance
By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.
EDMUND BURKE

Mistake Nation Power Small
To complain of the age we live in, to murmur at the present possessors of power, to lament the past, to conceive extravagant hopes of the future, are the common dispositions of the greatest part of mankind.
EDMUND BURKE

Age Future Hope Kind Live Man Present
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
EDMUND BURKE

Flatter Generosity Receive
Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.
EDMUND BURKE

King Principle Rebel Subject Tyranny
Liberty does not exist in the absence of morality.
EDMUND BURKE

Absence Existence Liberty Moral
The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny.
EDMUND BURKE

Multitude Tyranny
Power gradually extirpates from the mind every humane and gentle virtue.
EDMUND BURKE

Gentle Gradual Human Mindset Power
The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again; and a nation is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered.
EDMUND BURKE

Alone Force Government Moments Temporary

By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.

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By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.

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