Selections from the Speeches and Writings of Edmund Burke


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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 Read by InTheDesert
Appendix 4:40 Read by InTheDesert
Nature and Functions of the House of Commons — Retrospect and Resignation — Modesty of Mind — Newton and Nature — Theory and Practice 8:41 Read by Elijah Fisher
Induction and Comparison — Divine Power on the Human Idea — Union of Love and Dread in Religion — Office of Sympathy — Words 5:45 Read by Elijah Fisher
Nature Anticipates Man — Self — Inspection — Power of the Obscure — Female Beauty — Novelty and Curiosity 4:48 Read by Elijah Fisher
Pleasures of Analogy — Ambition — Extensions of Sympathy — Philosophy of Taste — Clearness and Strength in Style 5:12 Read by Ariphron
Unity of Imagination — Effect of Words — Investigation — Sublime — Obscurity 4:52 Read by Ariphron
Principles of Taste — the Beautiful — the Real and the Ideal — Judgment in Art — Moral Effects of Language 7:45 Read by Ariphron
Security of Truth — Imitation an Instinctive Law — Standard of Reason and Taste — Use of Theory — Political Outcasts 5:36 Read by earl
Injustice to Our Own Age — False Coalitions — Political Empiricism — a Visionary — Party Divisions 6:35 Read by earl
Decorum in Party — not So Bad as We Seem — Politics Without Principle — Moral Debasement Progressive — Despotism 6:08 Read by earl
Judgment and Policy — Popular Discontent — the People and Their Rulers — Government Favouritism — Administration and Legislation 6:00 Read by Bob Goodwin
Influence of the Crown — Voice of the People — Fallacy of Extremes — Private Character a Basis for Public Confidence — Prevention 8:28 Read by drandall
Confidence in the People — False Maxims Assumed as First Principles — Lord Chatham — Grenville — Charles Townshend 16:31 Read by drandall
Party and Place — Political Connections — Neutrality — Weakness in Government — American Progress 10:05 Read by Ted Lienhart
Combination, not Faction — Great Men — Power of Constituents — Influence of Place in Government — Taxation Involves Principle 7:10 Read by Ted Lienhart
Good Member of Parliament — Fisheries of New England — Preparation for Parliament — Bathurst and America's Future — Candid Policy 10:28 Read by Ted Lienhart
Wisdom of Concession — Magnanimity — Duty of Representatives — Prudential Silence — Colonial Ties 4:52 Read by Ted Lienhart
Government and Legislation — Parliament — Moral Levellers — Public Salary and Patriotic Service — Rational Liberty 8:42 Read by Ted Lienhart
Ireland and Magna Charta — Colonies and British Constitution — Reciprocal Confidence — Pensions and the Crown — Colonial Progress 12:31 Read by Steve C
Feudal Principles and Modern Times — Restrictive Virtues — Libellers of Human Nature — Refusal a Revenue — a Party Man 11:35 Read by Ted Lienhart
Patriotism and Public Income — American Protestantism — Right of Taxation — Contracted Views — Assimilating Power of Contact 9:42 Read by Ted Lienhart
Prudence of Timely Reform — Difficulties of Reformers — Philosophy of Commerce — Theorizing Politicians — Economy and Public Spirit 8:35 Read by Ted Lienhart
Reform Ought to Be Progressive — Civil Freedom — Tendencies of Power — Individual Good and Public Benefit — Public Corruption 7:00 Read by Ted Lienhart
Cruelty and Cowardice — Bad Laws Produce Base Subserviency — False Regret — British Dominion in East India — Political Charity 12:20 Read by Ted Lienhart
Evils of Distraction — Charles Fox — the Impracticable Undesirable — Constitution of the Commons — Emoluments of Office 10:21 Read by Ted Lienhart
Moral Distinctions — Electors and Representatives — Popular Opinion a Fallacious Standard — English Reformation — Proscription 10:21 Read by Ted Lienhart
Just Freedom — England's Embassy to America — Howard, the Philanthropist — Parliamentary Retrospect — People and Parliament 8:09 Read by Ted Lienhart
Reformed Civil List — French and English Revolution — Armed Discipline — Gilded Despotism — Our French Dangers 10:59 Read by Ted Lienhart
Sir George Saville — Corruption not Self — Reformed — the Bribed and the Bribers — Hyder Ali — Reformation and Anarchy Contrasted and Compared 14:14 Read by Ted Lienhart
Confidence and Jealousy — Economy of Injustice — Subsistence and Revenue — Authority and Venality — Prerogative of the Crown and Privilege of Parliament 9:24 Read by Ted Lienhart
Burke and Fox — Peers and Commons — Natural Self — Destruction — the Carnatic — Abstract Theory of Human Liberty 14:08 Read by Ted Lienhart
Politics and the Pulpit — Idea of French Revolution — Patriotic Distinction — Kingly Power not Based on Popular Choice — Preaching Democracy of Dissent 12:10 Read by Ted Lienhart
Jargon of Republicanism — Conservative Progress of Inherited Freedom — Conservation and Correction — Hereditary Succession of English Crown — Limits of Legislative Capacity 16:25 Read by Ted Lienhart
Our Constitution, not Fabricated, But Inherited — Low Aims and Low Instruments — House of Commons Contrasted with National Assembly — Property, More Than Ability, Represented in Parliament — Virtue and Wisdom Qualify for Government 22:17 Read by Ted Lienhart
Natural and Civil Rights — Marie Antoinette — Spirit of a Gentleman and the Spirit of Religion — Power Survives Opinion — Chivalry a Moralizing Charm 21:46 Read by Ted Lienhart
Sacredness of Moral Instincts — Parental Experience — Revolutionary Scene — Economy on State Principles — Philosophical Vanity; Its Maxims, and Effects 41:22 Read by Ariphron
Unity Between Church and State — Triple Basis of French Revolution — Correspondent System of Manners and Morals — Ferocity of Jacobinism — Voice of Oppression 19:31 Read by Ariphron
Britain Vindicated in Her War with France — Polish and French Revolution — Europe in 1789 — Atheism Cannot Repent — Outward Dignity of the Church Defended 20:38 Read by Ted Lienhart
Danger of Abstract Views — Appeal to Impartiality — Historical Estimate of Louis Xvi — Negative Religion a Nullity — Antechamber of Regicide 14:45 Read by Ted Lienhart
Tremendousness of War — English Officers — Diplomacy of Humiliation — Relation of Wealth to National Dignity — Ambassadors of Infamy 13:34 Read by Ted Lienhart
Difficulty the Path to Glory — Robespierre and His Counterparts — Accumulation, a State Principle — Warning for a Nation — Santerre and Tallien 17:16 Read by Ted Lienhart
Sir Sydney Smith — a Moral Distinction — Infidels and Their Policy — What a Minister Should Attempt — Law of Vicinity 21:20 Read by Ted Lienhart
European Community — Perils of Jacobin Peace — Parliamentary and Regal Prerogative — Burke's Design in His Greatest Work — Lord Keppel 24:36 Read by Ted Lienhart
"Labouring Poor" — State Consecrated by the Church — Fate of Louis XVIII — Nobility — Legislation and Republicans 22:49 Read by Ted Lienhart
Principle of State-Consecration — British Stability — Literary Atheists — City of Paris — Principle of Church Property 23:20 Read by Ted Lienhart
Parsimony not Economy — Majesty of the British Constitution — Duty not Based on Will — Ecclesiastical Confiscation — Moral of History 17:34 Read by Ted Lienhart
Use of Defects in History — Social Contract — Prescriptive Rights — Madness of Innovation — the State, Its Own Revenue 16:11 Read by Ted Lienhart
Metaphysical Depravity — Personal and Ancestral Claims — Monastic and Philosophic Superstition — Difficulty and Wisdom of Corporate Reform — Distinctive Character of English Protestantism 18:24 Read by Ted Lienhart
Fictitious Liberty — French Ignorance of English Character — the "People," and "Omnipotence" of Parliament — Magnanimity of English People — True Basis of Civil Society 13:11 Read by Ted Lienhart
Rousseau — Moral Heroes — Kingdom of France — Grievance and Opinion — Perplexity and Policy 13:49 Read by Ted Lienhart
Historical Instruction — Montesquieu — Articles, and Scripture — Problem of Legislation — Order, Labour, and Property 10:31 Read by Ted Lienhart
Regicidal Legislature — Government not to Be Rashly Censured — Etiquette — Ancient Establishments — Sentiment and Policy 10:51 Read by Hedwig819
Patriotism — Necessity, a Relative Term — King John and the Pope — Consumption and Produce — "Priests of the Rights of Man" 13:12 Read by Elijah Fisher
"His Grace" — Speculation and History — Labour and Wages — a Complete Revolution — British Government in India 27:15 Read by Ted Lienhart
Money and Science — Political Axioms — Disappointed Ambition — Difficulty an Instructor — Sovereign Jurisdictions 22:28 Read by mleigh
Prudery of False Reform — Exaggeration — Tactics of Cabal — Government, Relative, not Absolute — General Views 21:04 Read by mleigh
Magnitude in Building — Society and Solitude — East — India Bill and Company — Parliaments and Elections — Religion and Magistracy 28:35 Read by Ted Lienhart
Persecution, False in Theory — Irish Legislation — Henry of Navarre — Test Acts — What Faction Ought to Teach 11:21 Read by Elijah Fisher
Grievances by Law — Revolutionary Politics — Toleration Become Intolerant — Wilkes and Right of Election — Rockingham and Conway 30:27 Read by Ted Lienhart
Politics in the Pulpit — William the Conqueror — King Alfred — Druids — Saxon Conquest and Conversion 32:59 Read by Ted Lienhart
Ministerial Responsibility — Monastic Institutions and Their Results — Common Law and Magna Charta — Europe and the Norman Invasion — Ancient Inhabitants of Britain 57:01 Read by Elijah Fisher
Public Prosecutions — True Nature of a Jacobin War — National Dignity — Principles of Government not Absolute, But Relative — Declaration of 1793 27:08 Read by Ted Lienhart
Moral Diet — King William's Policy — Distemper of Remedy — War and Will of the People — False Policy in Our French War 18:09 Read by Remy
Moral Essence Makes a Nation — Public Spirit — Progressive Growth of Christian States — Petty Interests — Pius Vii 16:47 Read by mleigh
Extinction of Local Patriotism — Walpole and His Policy — Political Peace — Public Loans — Historical Strictures 31:01 Read by Ted Lienhart
Constitution not the People's Slave — Modern "Lights" — Republics in the Abstract — an English Monarch — Physiognomy 14:08 Read by Elijah Fisher
The Eye — Abolition and Use of Parliaments — Cromwell and His Contrasts — Delicacy — Confiscation and Currency 23:24 Read by Ted Lienhart
"Omnipotence of Church Plunder" — Ugliness — Grace — Elegance and Speciousness — the Beautiful in Feeling 9:25 Read by Ted Lienhart
The Beautiful in Sounds — British Church 8:47 Read by Ted Lienhart