--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great empire and little minds go ill…" description: "\"A great empire and little minds go ill together.\" — Edmund Burke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/edmund-burke-400_american-revolution_a-great-empire-and-little-minds-go-ill-t_1757099.jpg" --- # A great empire and little minds go ill together. ![“A great empire and little minds go ill together.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/edmund-burke-400_american-revolution_a-great-empire-and-little-minds-go-ill-t_1757099.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/edmund-burke-400_american-revolution_a-great-empire-and-little-minds-go-ill-t_1757099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/edmund-burke-400_american-revolution_a-great-empire-and-little-minds-go-ill-t_1757099.jpg) > “A great empire and little minds go ill together.” [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful states and narrow thinking are mutually destructive, leading to societal decay. **In simple terms:** Small minds and empires harm each other. Key Takeaway Avoid limiting perspectives in governance. Themes politics society leadership Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - education reform - public discourse - leadership training Key Concepts authoritarianism intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster open thinking? - What safeguards prevent intellectual decline? A Different Perspective Even great empires can falter if ideas remain stagnant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/) [Empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empire/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Great empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-empires/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Little minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-minds/) [Magnanimity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnanimity/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/magnanimity-in-politics-is-not-seldom-the-truest-wisdom-and-a-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [O, beautiful and grand, My own, my native land! 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Rule over yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/would-you-have-a-great-empire-rule-over-yourself/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [But if we are to remain a great empire, we must have a greater understanding of the hearts and minds of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/but-if-we-are-to-remain-a-great-empire-we-must-have-a-greater/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“A great empire cannot bring freedom by its own decay to those corners in it where a subject people are prevented from discussing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/a-great-empire-cannot-bring-freedom-by-its-own-decay-to-those-corners/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## More by Edmund Burke > [It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-is-the-interest-of-the-commercial-world-that-wealth-should-be/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. 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