Those who have more power are liable to sin more; no theorem in geometry is more certain than this.
LORD ACTONThe 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.
More Lord Acton Quotes
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Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.
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The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers.
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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.
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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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Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.
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Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.
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From the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
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It is easier to find people fit to govern themselves than people fit to govern others.
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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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Judge talent at its best and character at its worst.
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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.
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The will of the people cannot make just that which is unjust.
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When 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.
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Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity.
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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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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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Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.
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When you perceive a truth, look for the balancing truth.
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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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But when modern absolutism arose, it laid claim to everything on behalf of the sovereign power….
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Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites.
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The mills of God grind slowly.
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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.
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If the past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the past is the safest and the surest emancipation.
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