Edmund Burke Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors."

by:	Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Irish-born British statesman, parliamentary orator, and political thinker
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Categories:	Learning, History
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Reader comments about this quote:

-- Mike, Norwalk
Its a roundabout way of saying that we must learn from the past if we are to improve our future, but then the Irish do seem to like roundabouts. -- Justin, Elkland 1
Trying to sell his book... look backwards by all means, but don't stay there to long. -- RBESRQ
There has to be more to life than looking backwards and forwards, how about living for today or for the moment. You are just as important in the scheme of things than were your ancestors or will be your posterity. -- Waffler, Smith
Waffler, are you talking about rational self-interest, or do you just mean men shouldn't think. Muskrats live for the moment. Potted plants live for the moment. Humanity's ability to form logical conclusions from past experiences and apply those conclusions to future problems is the only thing that separates us from the beasts. -- Justin, Elkland
Nice rejoinder to Waffler's Waffledribble, Justin. -- zeitgeist, la crescenta, ca
True Justin, ture. The quote just sort of struck me the other way. If our only purpose is to procreate (for posterity) and look back to honor and learn from our ancestors, is their any time for us to live our own lives. You got anyting against muskrats and potted plants, They to just like you have their place in the world. -- Waffler, Smith
very good -- hamid, kuala lumpuyr
Muskrats and potted plants remind me of socialists. -- Anonymous
Waffler has no real stand on anything, only to disparage any attempt to get to the truth or to free ourselves from the statist tyranny that he so loves. The study of history reveals the techniques of the powerful to subdue and yoke the masses. Learn and you can avoid the pit, ignore and "be assimilated." -- E Archer, NYC

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