Agreement Quote by Edmund Burke
“Society is indeed a contract. Subordinate contracts for objects of mere occasional interest may be dissolved at pleasure - but the state ought not to be considered as nothing better than a partnership agreement in a trade of pepper and coffee, calico, or tobacco, or some other such low concern, to be taken up for a little temporary interest, and to be dissolved by the fancy of the parties. It is to be looked on with other reverence, because it is not a partnership in things subservient only to the gross animal existence of a temporary and perishable nature.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political Treatise, 1770s
Burke argues that the state is a sacred contract, not a mere commercial partnership, deserving reverence beyond temporary interests.
In simple terms: The government is a lasting, serious agreement, not a short‑term business deal.
Key Takeaway
Treat the state with respect and long‑term commitment.
Themes
politics
contract
state
reverence
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- constitutional drafting
- public education
- community organizing
Key Concepts
social contract
political theory
civic duty
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do citizens have to uphold the social contract?
- How can governments balance tradition with contemporary needs?
A Different Perspective
Modern political discourse may view the state more pragmatically, challenging the reverence claim.
![“Art is beauty, and every exposition of art, whether it be music, painting, or the drama, should be subservient to that one great end. As long as nature is a means to the attainment of beauty, so-called realism is necessary and permissable [sic], but it must be realism enhanced by idealism and…” quote by Julia Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bf9/julia-marlowe-63941_art_art-is-beauty-and-every-exposition-of-ar_273124.jpg)
