Who said “Whenever our neighbor's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a…”?

Verified

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

SourceReflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

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“Whenever our neighbor's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own.”
— Edmund Burke
VerifiedReflections on the Revolution in France (1790) · evidenceCaution

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790).

APA

Burke, E. (n.d.). Whenever our neighbor's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9029-whenever-our-neighbors-house-is-on-fire-it/

MLA

Burke, Edmund. “Whenever our neighbor's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9029-whenever-our-neighbors-house-is-on-fire-it/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Burke, Edmund. “Whenever our neighbor's house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9029-whenever-our-neighbors-house-is-on-fire-it/.

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