Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for…
““Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Men have a right that these wants should be provided for by this wisdom. Among these wants is to be reckoned the want, out of civil society, of a sufficient restraint upon their passions. Society requires not only that the passions of individuals should be subjected, but that even in the mass and body, as well as in the individuals, the inclinations of men should frequently be thwarted, their will controlled, and their passions brought into subjection. This can only be done by a power out of themselves; and not, in the exercise of its function, subject to that will and to those passions which it is its office to bridle and subdue. In this sense the restraints on men, as well as their liberties, are to be reckoned among their rights. But as the liberties and restrictions vary with times and circumstances, and admit of infinite modifications, they cannot be settled upon any abstract rule; and nothing is so foolish as to discuss them upon that principle.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Burke argues that government exists to regulate human desires and passions, requiring external authority to restrain both individuals and collectives, and that liberty and restriction must balance and evolve with time.
In simple terms: Government restrains passions to protect liberty, adapting over time.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the need for balanced authority.
Themes
politics
philosophy
law
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislative design
- public policy
- civil society
- education on civic duty
Key Concepts
social contract
authority
liberty
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How should modern societies balance liberty with necessary restraints?
- What mechanisms ensure authority remains accountable?
A Different Perspective
Overly rigid structures can stifle innovation and personal freedom.