Edmund Burke Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Your representative owes you,
not his industry only, but his judgment;
and he betrays, instead of serving you,
if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

by:	Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Irish-born British statesman, parliamentary orator, and political thinker
Source:	to the voters of Bristol, 1774
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Categories:	Congress, Democracy, Government, Honor, Politics, Vote, Election
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Reader comments about this quote:

good job -- Anonymous
In short, since you elected him you should trust him to think and feel the same way you do. ( Caution: you could have been in error when you selected, voted for, elected him .. or .. he could have been lying just, only and simply for your vote. ) -- Bobble, No. Ferrisburgh, VT
I doubt there are many Old-School Statesmanlike candidates as referred to in Burke's quote. Today, all mainstream candidates are aligned with and preened by the big-shot 2-party gang-rape system that runs "our" criminally corrupt USA politics (TEA PARTY NOTWITHSTANDING - THANK GOD). Therefor, all mainstream candidates are cast and set one way or another, and have no interest in any mere constituent's "opinion". Money and Power (and hacked voting machines) move votes, not opinion of constituency! This quote is from a very different era; what a queer concept today. -- Mark the Shark, Aurora, CO
Assuming the representative does not exceed his Constitutionally authorized duties, I can agree with the statement. If the representative was voted in on principle, then he should stay true to his word to keep that principle. The electorate as a rule does NOT know what goes on behind the scenes. That is the primary reason 'honor' is such an important qualification for government office. Representatives with integrity are the true guardians of liberty and prosperity. -- E Archer, NYC
The referenced concept is a government of men as is averse to a government of law. As the representative represents your inalienable rights (not you personally, all people have different needs, wants and opinions but rather individual rights = all being equal before the law) he acts at law. If the representative sacrifices his lawful duties to individual opinion (opinion poles, etc.), he acts contrary to law, justice, freedom and liberty. -- Mike, Norwalk
On point, is to protect them from themselves, Masses are not the best depository for best keep knowledge. These cards played best close to the chest ! Semper FI -- Ronw13, Yachats Or
-- jim k, Austin

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