Daniel E. Ritchie, 'Desire and Sympathy, Passion and Providence: The Moral Imaginations of Burke and Rousseau', in Steven Blakemore (ed.), Burke and the French Revolution: Bicentennial Essays (1992), p. 132
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Chivalry for Burke reverses the all-too-human tendency to believe that "might makes right." Chivalry requires the powerful—those capable of inspiring others with the fear of death, terror, and the other aspects of the sublime—to subordinate their power to the interests and needs of the weak.
— Daniel E. Ritchie
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Chivalry for Burke reverses the all-too-human tendency to believe that "might makes right." Chivalry requires the powerful—those capable of inspiring others with the fear of death, terror, and the other aspects of the sublime—to subordinate their power to the interests and needs of the weak." in the context of "Daniel E. Ritchie, 'Desire and Sympathy, Passion and Providence: The Moral Imaginations of Burke and Rousseau', in Steven Blakemore (ed.), Burke and the French Revolution: Bicentennial Essays (1992), p. 132" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Edmund Burke" (Quotes about Burke: Sorted alphabetically by author, R)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke (12 January 1729 – 9 July 1797) was a British and Irish statesman and philosopher. Born in Dublin, Burke served as a member of parliament (MP) between 1766 and 1794 in the House of Commons of Great Britain with the Whig Party after moving to London in 1750.
About Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke (12 January 1729 – 9 July 1797) was a British and Irish statesman and philosopher. Born in Dublin, Burke served as a member of parliament (MP) between 1766 and 1794 in the House of Commons of Great Britain with the Whig Party after moving to London in 1750.
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