Quote by Edmund Burke?

Question

I want to see what everyone thinks this quote means...

"The power of perpetuating our property in our familiesis one of the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging to it and that which tend the most to the perpetuation of society itself. It makes our weakness subservient to our virtue, it grafts benevolence even upon avarice."

Answer 1

Well first, to turn the quote into modern english, I think it is saying three things: one that the power to leave our property to our heirs is cool and contributes to the ongoingness of society, two, that it somehow strengthens our virtue to become stronger than our weakness, and three that it it attaches kindness and altruism even onto greed.

I don't think there is any logical slam dunk for any one of those ideas - if our property were re-absorbed by our society, say, instead of our being able to will it to specific people (not necessarily family members, note) then what - would that somehow weaken or erode society? To the contrary, it would put vast resources back into the societal hopper - also, people can be just as mean and nasty with their wills as they were when alive - I'm not sure of the merit of any of this quote.

Answer 2

rather? What he's asserting is that inspite of the shown fact that annoying we attempt to point the enjoying container it is going to in no way artwork. My dad suggested provide 2 adult males one dollar each and each and via day after at the instant you will have no longer something and the different 2 money. In different words, you will pay people the comparable quantity (as communist international locations do) yet you are able to no longer equalise people. no longer obtainable. Have yet another look on the quote and notice what else you will discover in it. sturdy good fortune. Mo Eng Lit prepare.

Answer 3

I agree with that quote. What you have in lavish (your own property) makes you content and therefore eradicates material hunger inside you (greed). As time goes by and you have established security in your possessions, and you see others who need your auxiliary belongings, you tend to reach out and share it, therefore it helps your society become more materially able. Very evident in rich countries.

Answer 4

I think it refers to our desire to achieve some sort of immortality by way of perpetuating our possessions in our family. The old family homestead is an example for people hate to see the old homestead pass out of the family name.

Our desire to keep the property and hand it down leads, according to Burke, to good for society for it keeps us under control. Even if we're naturally of a poor character, our desire for "immortality" will tend to keep us out of trouble.

That's my take anyway.