"To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men"

This quote by Edmund Burke is a reminder that there are limits to what humans can do. He is stating that it is not possible for humans to both tax and please individuals at the exact same time. Taxing people is typically seen as an unpleasant task, and pleasing people is typically viewed as a difficult task. Burke is recommending that it is not possible for human beings to do both of these things at the very same time. He is likewise saying that it is not possible for people to both love and be smart at the very same time. Love and wisdom are 2 qualities that are typically viewed as being equally special. Burke is suggesting that it is not possible for human beings to possess both of these qualities at the exact same time. This quote is a reminder that there are limitations to what humans can do, and that it is essential to acknowledge these limitations.