Bad men combine

Posted by Henry on August 28, 2004

In Reply to: GOOD MEN STAY SILENT FOR EVIL MEN TO PROSPER posted by Freddy on August 28, 2004

: I would be gratefull if anyone can tell me the acurate wording for the phrase written below and who said it? "Good men need only to stay silent for evil men to prosper"

: Regards Freddy

This remark, or a variation on it, is widely attributed to Edmund Burke. However, it has not yet been located in his writing.

www.tartarus.org/ ~martin/essays/burkequote2.html
IF GOOD MEN FAIL by David Sisler

'When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.'

That quote from Edmund Burke in 'Thoughts on the Cause of Present Discontents' has, in general use, come to be delivered as, 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'