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Quote#Wisdom

Through a wise and salutary neglect [of the colonies], a generous…

Quote byEdmund Burke · 1729–1797

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Second Speech on Conciliation with America (1775).

English (original)

Through a wise and salutary neglect [of the colonies], a generous nature has been suffered to take her own way to perfection; when I reflect upon these effects, when I see how profitable they have been to us, I feel all the pride of power sink and all presumption in the wisdom of human contrivances melt and die away within me. My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.

— Edmund Burke

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