Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
LORD ACTONIn England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.
More Lord Acton Quotes
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It is easier to find people fit to govern themselves than people fit to govern others.
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Learn as much by writing as by reading.
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We are not sure we are right until we have made the best case possible for those who are wrong.
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When you perceive a truth, look for the balancing truth.
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History provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong.
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The strong man with the dagger is followed by the weak man with the sponge.
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A people averse to the institution of private property is without the first elements of freedom
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Monarchy hardens into despotism. Aristocracy contracts into oligarchy. Democracy expands into the supremacy of numbers.
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Democracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power.
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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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Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power — power sufficient to interfere with property.
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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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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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No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence.
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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