“Prejudice,” as Burke uses the term, is a kind of preconceived opinion, not considered to be an unjust bias—for example, affection for one’s country and its customs. Burke contrasts prejudice with “naked reason” in Reflections, arguing that prejudice provides a sounder basis for reform than rationalist revolution.
Prejudice Quotes in Reflections on the Revolution in France
The Reflections on the Revolution in France quotes below are all either spoken by Prejudice or refer to Prejudice. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Section 9
Quotes
You see, Sir, that in this enlightened age I am bold enough to confess, that we are generally men of untaught feelings; that instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree, and, to take more shame to ourselves, we cherish them because they are prejudices; and the longer they have lasted, and the more generally they have prevailed, the more we cherish them. We are afraid to put men to live and trade each on his own private stock of reason; because we suspect that this stock in each man is small, and that the individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations, and of ages.
Related Characters:
Edmund Burke (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Reflections on the Revolution in France LitChart as a printable PDF.
Prejudice Term Timeline in Reflections on the Revolution in France
The timeline below shows where the term Prejudice appears in Reflections on the Revolution in France. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Section 9
...enough to confess, that we are generally men of untaught feelings […] we cherish [our prejudices] to a very considerable degree,” especially those prejudices that have lasted for a long time....
(full context)
Prejudice provides a sort of coat for “naked reason,” “[gives] action to that reason, and an...
(full context)
Section 10
...to introduce England’s various establishments. First, he discusses the Church establishment, “the first of our prejudices,” and one grounded in wisdom, not devoid of it. It is necessary both to form...
(full context)
...avoid “the evils of inconstancy and versatility,” which are worse, in Burke’s view, than stubborn prejudice, “we have consecrated the state.” The state can make mistakes, but its faults should be...
(full context)
