The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion of equality made vain the hope for freedom.

LORD ACTON

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The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion of equality made vain the hope for freedom.

Lord Acton

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Bagwalas

At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by associating themselves with auxiliaries whose objects often differed from their own; and this association, which is always dangerous, has sometimes been disastrous.

LORD ACTON

At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by associating themselves with auxiliaries whose objects often differed from their own; and this association, which is always dangerous, has sometimes been disastrous.
LORD ACTON

Association Friend Minorities Racem People Themselves Triumph
But when modern absolutism arose, it laid claim to everything on behalf of the sovereign power….

LORD ACTON

But when modern absolutism arose, it laid claim to everything on behalf of the sovereign power….
LORD ACTON

Absolutism Behalf Claim Everything Laid Modern Sovereign
Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.

LORD ACTON

Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.
LORD ACTON

Other Prevention
If some great catastrophe is not announced every morning, we feel a certain void. Nothing in the paper today, we sigh.

LORD ACTON

If some great catastrophe is not announced every morning, we feel a certain void. Nothing in the paper today, we sigh.
LORD ACTON

Anxiety Generous Nothing Today
There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

LORD ACTON

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.
LORD ACTON

Development Mindedness Narrow Shaken Simple Thing Two
The true natural check on absolute democracy is the federal system, which limits the central government by the powers reserved, and the state governments by the powers they have ceded.

LORD ACTON

The true natural check on absolute democracy is the federal system, which limits the central government by the powers reserved, and the state governments by the powers they have ceded.
LORD ACTON

Bnaturem Check Central Stage
Learn as much by writing as by reading.

LORD ACTON

Learn as much by writing as by reading.
LORD ACTON

Learn Much Raed
The principle of the Inquisition was murderous. . . . The popes were not only murderers in the great style, but they also made murder a legal basis of the Christian Church and a condition of salvation.

LORD ACTON

The principle of the Inquisition was murderous. . . . The popes were not only murderers in the great style, but they also made murder a legal basis of the Christian Church and a condition of salvation.
LORD ACTON

Christian Murderous
No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence.

LORD ACTON

No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence.
LORD ACTON

Correspondance Revelation Stood Utterance
Ink was not invented to express our real feelings.

LORD ACTON

Ink was not invented to express our real feelings.
LORD ACTON

Ink Inverted Real
False principles, which correspond with the bad as well as with the just aspirations of mankind, are a normal and necessary element in the social life of nations.

LORD ACTON

False principles, which correspond with the bad as well as with the just aspirations of mankind, are a normal and necessary element in the social life of nations.
LORD ACTON

Aspiration Correspond Element Just Mankind Principles
Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.

LORD ACTON

Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.
LORD ACTON

Merit
Official truth is not actual truth.

LORD ACTON

Official truth is not actual truth.
LORD ACTON

Actually Official
History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.

LORD ACTON

History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.
LORD ACTON

Disputes Document Evasion
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

LORD ACTON

Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
LORD ACTON

End Higher Mean Political
A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.

LORD ACTON

A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.
LORD ACTON

Both Fool Last Once

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