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.
LORD ACTONIt is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, if it is called into play.
More Lord Acton Quotes
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There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.
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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.
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The possession of unlimited power corrodes the conscience, hardens the heart, and confounds the understanding.
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Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.
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There should be a law to the People besides its own will.
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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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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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Live both in the future and the past. Who does not live in the past does not live in the future.
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A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.
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When 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.
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The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality.
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Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.
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Democracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power.
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Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought.
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The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers.
LORD ACTON