This quote by Edmund Burke is a warning against the risks of tyranny. Burke is suggesting that autocrats do not need a reason or validation to act in oppressive ways. Autocrats are typically driven by their own self-centered desires and will use any means necessary to attain their objectives. This quote is a suggestion that tyrants are not bound by any moral code or sense of justice, which they will use any excuse to oppress and control those around them. It is a reminder that we should be vigilant and not permit autocrats to get power, as they will not hesitate to use it to their own advantage. This quote is a suggestion that we need to be aware of the risks of tyranny and take steps to protect ourselves and our rights.
"A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture"