Who said “To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.”?

Verified

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

SourceFirst Speech on the Conciliation with America (1774)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: First Speech on the Conciliation with America (1774).

APA

Burke, E. (n.d.). To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37440-to-tax-and-to-please-no-more-than/

MLA

Burke, Edmund. “To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37440-to-tax-and-to-please-no-more-than/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Burke, Edmund. “To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37440-to-tax-and-to-please-no-more-than/.