Who said “Early and provident fear is the mother of safety.”?

Verified

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

SourceSpeech on the Petition of the Unitarians (11 May 1792), volume vii, p. 50

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“Early and provident fear is the mother of safety.”
— Edmund Burke
VerifiedSpeech on the Petition of the Unitarians (11 May 1792), volume vii, p. 50 · evidenceSafety

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Speech on the Petition of the Unitarians (11 May 1792), volume vii, p. 50.

APA

Burke, E. (n.d.). Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/30587-early-and-provident-fear-is-the-mother-of/

MLA

Burke, Edmund. “Early and provident fear is the mother of safety.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/30587-early-and-provident-fear-is-the-mother-of/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Burke, Edmund. “Early and provident fear is the mother of safety.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/30587-early-and-provident-fear-is-the-mother-of/.

Related quotes

“The wronged side is always the safest.”
— Sibbes
Safety

More quotes by Edmund Burke

All 95 Edmund Burke quotes →