Who said “People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they…”?

Verified

Edmund Burke. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Charles James Fox (8 October 1777)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose, will always be dangerous.”
VerifiedLetter to Charles James Fox (8 October 1777) · evidenceLaw and Lawyers
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Charles James Fox (8 October 1777).

APA

Burke, E. (n.d.). People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose, will always be dangerous. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25516-people-crushed-by-law-have-no-hopes-but/

MLA

Burke, Edmund. “People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose, will always be dangerous.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25516-people-crushed-by-law-have-no-hopes-but/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Burke, Edmund. “People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose, will always be dangerous.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25516-people-crushed-by-law-have-no-hopes-but/.