Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought.
LORD ACTON
LORD ACTON
Lord Acton on able
Lord Acton108 quotes“Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought.”
More from Lord Acton
The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks.
Lord ActonLord Acton Every class is unfit to govern.
Lord ActonLord Acton If some great catastrophe is not announced every morning, we feel a certain void. Nothing in the paper today, we sigh.
Lord ActonLord 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 ActonLord Acton No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence.
Lord ActonLord Acton It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.
Lord ActonLord Acton Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.
Lord ActonLord Acton Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.
Lord ActonLord Acton Piety sometimes gives birth to scruples, and faith to superstition, when they are not directed by wisdom and knowledge.
Lord ActonLord 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 ActonLord 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 ActonLord 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 ActonLord Acton A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism.
Lord ActonLord Acton And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that.
Lord ActonLord Acton The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections.
Lord ActonLord Acton History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.
Lord ActonLord Acton
Original quotes
From our community writers
And in the end when the money is gone – will you still stay it was worth it.
M.K. StandbyM.K. Standby My soul speaks a language, only you can understand.
Ginnie BaleGinnie Bale In another life, you kept your word, and forever’s still ours for the taking.
Harriet SelinaHarriet Selina Journey with struggle becomes a great tale in the future.
Carla StokesCarla Stokes I’m not asking that you take the bullet for me. I wish you’d shoot first.
Danielle MontgomeryDanielle Montgomery A rainy day is the perfect excuse to explore deeper feelings.
Emily BockEmily Bock Stop taking care of everyone else before you take care of yourself.
Claire VinsonClaire Vinson Music is a weed, we all fallen souls are high on.
Ananya BhaskarAnanya Bhaskar
Meet the writers
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Irvin D. YalomIrvin D. Yalom I have more ideas than I’ll ever be able to write in five lifetimes.
Rick RiordanRick Riordan I chose to walk on this journey, because I solely believed in it and wholeheartedly decided to do so, and I’m willing and able to pay for the consequences.
Aung San Suu KyiAung San Suu Kyi And I don’t want to look at you every day, to see you naked,to watch you wandering around the annexe in your crazy dresses and not…not be able to do what I want with you.
Jojo MoyesJojo Moyes I want some day to be able to love with the same intensity and unselfishness that parents love their children with.
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