This week’s whole-school literacy quote comes from the history department. They have chosen a quote from an Irish politician who has become famous in modern times for his perceptive and often prophetic quotes.
Edmund Burke (12 January 1730 – 9 July 1797) was born in Dublin and became infamous as an Irish political philosopher, Whig politician and statesman. Burke is often regarded as the father of modern conservatism.
“Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it”
Over his long career Edmund Burke fought five great political battles: for more equal treatment of Catholics in Ireland; against British oppression of the 13 American colonies; for constitutional restraints on royal patronage; against the power of the East India Company in India; and most famously, against the dogma of the French Revolution.
The common theme in Burke’s battles is his detestation of injustice and the abuse of power.
In modern times, Edmund Burke has become famous for his prophetic quotes that ring as true today as they did in the 1700s. These include the famous quote that the history department have taken for this week’s literacy quote, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it” but also “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.
Other Burkean quotes include “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little” and “The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse”.
We encourage all parents to discuss this week’s quote with their children and for students to record it in their journal or their quote copy.
Thanks again to the Language, Literacy and Numeracy team for developing the quotes of the week concept and for coordinating each department to contribute towards it.
