Explanation: Public calamity is a mighty leveler; and there are occasions when any, even the slightest chance of doing good, must be laid hold on, even by the most inconsiderable person.

Answer: The quoted lines have been extracted from the celebrated “Speech on Conciliation with America” by Edmund Burke, the great British parliamentarian. The sentence occurs in the introductory part of the speech. The orator here talks about the facts that led him to move his resolutions of peace in the House.

Burke belonged to the opposition. He was requested by one of his party men to come forward with constructive plans for the restoration of peace and order in America. However, he knew that putting forward any plan of action by the opposition is risking the reputation. Because, it is the duty of the ruling party, not of the opposition, to lay down the policy of the government. This made him hesitant in putting forward his plan. But, it is the public calamity – the danger both to England and America, chaos in the colonies, and doubt in the mother country – that led him to move his plan of conciliation. Burke argues that the potential danger of losing the colonies of America and threatening the entire land has obliterated any other consideration from his mind. The lurking danger has worked as a great leveler – it has wiped out the feelings of distinction between the ruling party and the opposition. Burke has responded to the occasion. It is such an occasion when the slightest chance of doing good for the country should be availed. Even an unimportant person should not spare the opportunity of serving the country in moments of crisis. It is this his plan of action. Burke here puts forward his justification for a sense of patriotism that eventually led Burke to come forward with putting forward his resolutions of peace in the House of Commons.