Judge talent at its best and character at its worst.
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.
More Lord Acton Quotes
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Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites.
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The minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
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It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.
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Political differences essentially depend on disagreement in moral principles.
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There should be a law to the People besides its own will.
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The test of liberty is the position and security of minorities.
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A people averse to the institution of private property is without the first elements of freedom
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But when modern absolutism arose, it laid claim to everything on behalf of the sovereign power….
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Piety sometimes gives birth to scruples, and faith to superstition, when they are not directed by wisdom and knowledge.
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Feudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.
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The passion for power over others can never cease to threaten mankind, and is always sure of finding new and unforseen allies in continuing its martyrology.
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Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
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For centuries it was never discovered that education was a function of the State, and the State never attempted to educate.
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Democracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power.
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There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.
LORD ACTON