Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Respect for ancestors leads to consideration for future generations.
In plain terms
Honoring the past helps you think about the future.
What can you take from it?
Link past respect to future care.

Where it applies

  • family history
  • policy making
  • environmental care

Putting it to work

  • preserve history
  • plan for future

Questions to consider

  • How does history shape us?
  • What will future generations think?

Another view

It may encourage rigid adherence to old ways.

More from Edmund Burke

  1. There was an ancient Roman lawyer, of great fame in the history of Roman jurisprudence, whom they called Cui Bono, from his having first introduced into judici…

    Permalink to quote #98
  2. Circumstances...give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour, and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civi…

    Permalink to quote #100
  3. There is but one law for all, namely, that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice, equity - the law of nature, and of …

    Permalink to quote #97

Related quotes

  1. Think of your forefathers! Think of your posterity!

    John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams quote #1
  2. The wisdom of our ancestors.

    Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke quote #5
  3. Posterity is the world to come; the world for whom we hold our ideals, from whom we have borrowed our planet, and to whom we bear sacred responsibility. We mus…

    Bill ClintonBill Clinton quote #6