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Burke feels he has proved his case: that Natural Society is better than Artificial Society - anarchy is better than statism.
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Burke pleads for the supremacy of reason and truth. He notes that it is unpopular to deny the legitimacy of the State, and that he does not intend to make his anarchism public for the time being. The essay was published anonymously, hinting that it was written by the late great Lord Bolingbroke.
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After so fair an Examen, wherein nothing has been exaggerated; no Fact produced
which cannot be proved, and none which has been produced in any wise forced or
strained, while thousands have, for Brevity, been omitted; after so candid a
Discussion in all respects; what Slave so passive, what Bigot so blind, what
Enthusiast so headlong, what Politician so hardened, as to stand up in Defence
of a System calculated for a Curse to Mankind? a Curse under which they smart
and groan to this Hour, without thoroughly knowing the Nature of the Disease,
and wanting Understanding or Courage to apply the Remedy.
I need not excuse myself to your Lordship, nor, I think, to any honest Man, for
the Zeal I have shewn in this Cause; for it is an honest Zeal, and in a good
Cause. I have defended Natural Religion against a Confederacy of Atheists and
Divines. I now plead for Natural Society against Politicians, and for Natural
Reason against all three. When the World is in a fitter Temper than it is at
present to hear Truth, or when I shall be more indifferent about its Temper;
my Thoughts may become more publick. In the mean time, let them repose in my
own Bosom, and in the Bosoms of such Men as are fit to be initiated in the sober
Mysteries of Truth and Reason.
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