Though oppression may give rise to violent and repeated outbreaks, like the convulsions of a man in pain, it cannot mature a settled purpose and plan of regeneration, unless a new notion of happiness is joined to the sense of present evil.
LORD ACTONLiberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime, from the sowing of the seed at Athens, 2,460 years ago, until the ripened harvest was gathered by men of our race
More Lord Acton Quotes
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Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime, from the sowing of the seed at Athens, 2,460 years ago, until the ripened harvest was gathered by men of our race
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A convinced man differs from a prejudiced man as an honest man from a liar.
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A generous spirit prefers that his country should be poor, and weak, and of no account, but free, rather than powerful, prosperous, and enslaved.
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In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.
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Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.
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To develop and perfect and arm conscience is the great achievement of history.
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Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power — power sufficient to interfere with property.
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There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.
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Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority…
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Every class is unfit to govern.
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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.
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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.
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Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites.
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If there is any presumption, it is the other way against holders of power…power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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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