There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.
LORD ACTONWhen the revolutionary theory of government began to prevail, and Church and State found that they were educating for opposite ends and in a contradictory spirit, it became necessary to remove children entirely from the influence of religion.
More Lord Acton Quotes
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Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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But when modern absolutism arose, it laid claim to everything on behalf of the sovereign power….
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Great men are almost always bad men.
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The science of politics is the one science that is deposited by the streams of history, like the grains of gold in the sand of a river; and the knowledge of the past, the record of truths revealed by experience, is eminently practical, as an instrument of action and a power that goes to making the future.
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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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History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.
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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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Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.
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Liberty has not only enemies which it conquers, but perfidious friends, who rob the fruits of its victories: Absolute democracy, socialism.
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In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.
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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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Liberty is the prevention of control by others.
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There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.
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The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers.
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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.
LORD ACTON