Judge talent at its best and character at its worst.
LORD ACTONJudge talent at its best and character at its worst.
LORD ACTONIf some great catastrophe is not announced every morning, we feel a certain void. Nothing in the paper today, we sigh.
LORD ACTONThe minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
LORD ACTONThere is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.
LORD ACTONHistory is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.
LORD ACTONProgress, the religion of those who have none.
LORD ACTONWhen the last of the Reformers died, religion, instead of emancipating the nations, had become an excuse for the criminal art of despots. Calvin preached, and Bellarmine lectured; but Machiavelli reigned.
LORD ACTONHistory provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong.
LORD ACTONLearn as much by writing as by reading.
LORD ACTONThere is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.
LORD ACTONWhen the revolutionary theory of government began to prevail, and Church and State found that they were educating for opposite ends and in a contradictory spirit, it became necessary to remove children entirely from the influence of religion.
LORD ACTONLiberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.
LORD ACTONFeudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.
LORD ACTONPower tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
LORD ACTONAuthority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.
LORD ACTONMoral precepts are constant through the ages and not obedient to circumstances.
LORD ACTON