There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It cannot feed the people. It cannot enrich the people. It cannot teach the people. It cannot convert the people.
LORD ACTONIn England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.
More Lord Acton Quotes
-
-
Democracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power.
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 -
At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities.
LORD ACTON -
A people averse to the institution of private property is without the first elements of freedom
LORD ACTON -
Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.
LORD ACTON -
The mills of God grind slowly.
LORD ACTON -
The true guide of our conduct is no outward authority, but the voice of God, who comes down to dwell in our souls, who knows all our thoughts, to whom are owing all the truth we know, and all the good we do; for vice is voluntary, and virtue comes from the grace of the heavenly spirit within.
LORD ACTON -
Federalism is the best curb on democracy. [It] assigns limited powers to the central government. Thereby all power is limited. It excludes absolute power of the majority.
LORD ACTON -
Progress, the religion of those who have none.
LORD ACTON -
Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority…
LORD ACTON -
Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power — power sufficient to interfere with property.
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 -
Before God, there is neither Greek nor barbarian, neither rich nor poor, and the slave is as good as his master, for by birth all men are free; they are citizens of the universal commonwealth which embraces all the world, brethren of one family, and children of God.
LORD ACTON -
A public man has no right to let his actions be determined by particular interests. He does the same thing as a judge who accepts a bribe. Like a judge he must consider what is right, not what is advantageous to a party or class.
LORD ACTON -
If there is any presumption, it is the other way against holders of power…power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
LORD ACTON -
To develop and perfect and arm conscience is the great achievement of history.
LORD ACTON -
The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. ~ Every class is unfit to govern … Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.
LORD ACTON -
Fanaticism in religion is the alliance of the passions she condemns with the dogmas she professes.
LORD ACTON -
Judge talent at its best and character at its worst.
LORD ACTON -
Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity.
LORD ACTON -
A convinced man differs from a prejudiced man as an honest man from a liar.
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 -
Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.
LORD ACTON -
Official truth is not actual truth.
LORD ACTON -
The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers.
LORD ACTON -
Ink was not invented to express our real feelings.
LORD ACTON